Crops Worth Rs 8 Cr Destroyed
Excise department officials destroying ganja plants in Odisha's Gajapati district (Photo by arrangement)
Bhubaneswar: In a significant operation against illegal cannabis cultivation, a joint team of Odisha Police and excise officials destroyed cannabis crops worth an estimated Rs 8 crore in the Gajapati district on Sunday.
Acting on a tip-off, the authorities targeted a hill near Pengam village under the Bada Sindhaba panchayat within the Mohana police limits. Over 100 personnel participated in the operation, which led to the destruction of approximately 42 acres of cannabis crops. The plants were set on fire during the raid, sources said.
This action is part of the Odisha government’s ongoing ‘Green Clean Mission,’ aimed at eradicating illegal cannabis cultivation from the state by 2026. Similar operations were recently carried out in the Adaba and R. Udayagiri police limits.
In a related effort, a joint task force cleared over 10 acres of cannabis plantations in the Digapahandi area of Ganjam district a few weeks ago. Around the same time, 62 acres of forest land in Subarnapur district were also rid of cannabis crops.
Authorities report significant achievements under the campaign, including the seizure of over 3,500 kilograms of cannabis, the arrest of 80 individuals, the confiscation of Rs 15 lakh in cash, and the impounding of over 20 vehicles linked to the illegal trade.
The intensified crackdown reflects the state’s commitment to eliminating the cultivation and trade of cannabis, with more operations expected in the coming months.
Acting on a tip-off, the authorities targeted a hill near Pengam village under the Bada Sindhaba panchayat within the Mohana police limits. Over 100 personnel participated in the operation, which led to the destruction of approximately 42 acres of cannabis crops. The plants were set on fire during the raid, sources said.
This action is part of the Odisha government’s ongoing ‘Green Clean Mission,’ aimed at eradicating illegal cannabis cultivation from the state by 2026. Similar operations were recently carried out in the Adaba and R. Udayagiri police limits.
In a related effort, a joint task force cleared over 10 acres of cannabis plantations in the Digapahandi area of Ganjam district a few weeks ago. Around the same time, 62 acres of forest land in Subarnapur district were also rid of cannabis crops.
Authorities report significant achievements under the campaign, including the seizure of over 3,500 kilograms of cannabis, the arrest of 80 individuals, the confiscation of Rs 15 lakh in cash, and the impounding of over 20 vehicles linked to the illegal trade.
The intensified crackdown reflects the state’s commitment to eliminating the cultivation and trade of cannabis, with more operations expected in the coming months.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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