GUWAHATI, March 20: The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) in association with the Customs department destroyed 218 hectares of poppy cultivation along the Assam-Arunachal border recently. It was one of the biggest operations of the two departments in the North East in which they destroyed opium worth Rs 4.5 crore. The operation called ?Tulip? was launched in Upper Siang and Lohit districts of Arunachal Pradesh and took 20 days to complete. Officials sources informed today that they had destroyed 144.26 and 74.30 hectares in Upper Siang and Lohit districts respectively defying hostile terrain.
CBN has been carrying out operation since 1987 along the Assam-Arunachal border in view of growing opium addiction among the peoples. But in the past two years the operation could not be carried out due to some problems. The sources revealed that despite motivation from various circles, people do not want to give up poppy cultivation, which has become a matter of concern among the authorities. Giving the rationale behind the increasing poppy production in the two districts, they opined that it has become a lucrative business for the people. Moreover, they are reluctant to give up their tradition.
?Chongkhan village was once one of the third richest villages in Asia for timber business, but now the people have started switching over to poppy cultivation for earning their livelihood,? the sources added. Lohit and Upper Siang which are mostly dominated by the Adi community, have been cultivating poppy for more than 100 years, and hence the people do not want to switch over to other occupations. The sources further revealed that in view of increasing opium addiction in the bordering areas, the CBN in association with the ILO and the UNDCP has introduced a programme to create awareness among the people against the ill-effects of opium. The project has been introduced with a view to providing an alternative source of income so that they can give up poppy cultivation, the sources said.
Giving more details about the operation, the sources informed that ?Tulip? was launched basically to eradicate the poppy growing in the border areas and to create awareness among the people. Asked about the opium consumption in the North-East India, the sources said ?According to reports, most of the opium produced in the two districts is generally consumed locally, but this is not sufficient to meet the demand of the people and hence nowadays opium is smuggled in from Myanmar.? In this context they also informed that in view of growing demand, opium is smuggled in from Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh to various destinations of North-east India. ?We have made several seizures in Assam in the last three months which were meant for transportation to various places of Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur,? they added.