Digital mapping using GIS technology, drones and helicopters will be used to destroy ganja plantations in Agency areas of the district.
Addressing a workshop organised by the department on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking here on Tuesday Commissioner of Department of Prohibition and Excise, P. Lakshmi Narasimham said GIS technology will be used to map the areas under cultivation. But at times the GIS technology may not give the right picture, as the technology allows the mapping only when the ganja saplings are over four to five metres in height. “We will then use drones and helicopters for confirmation,” he said.
According to him, efforts are also on to find out viable methods if plantations can be destroyed by spraying weedicides with the help of drones and helicopters. Research agencies have been told to examine the consequences, after effects, side effects and its pros and cons, he told The Hindu.
Last year, the Excise Department teamed up with the police to destroy plantations spread over at least 3,800 acres in at least four in the Agency.
Southern conference
Mr. Lakshmi Narasimham said 11 new border checkposts will be set-up shortly, including one in Vizianagaram. “The funds already have been sanctioned and we intent to cut the transport routes. We also have plans to set-up a state-of-the-art laboratory to aid our field officers in building up a concrete case with evidences,” he said.
The Commissioner said a high-level conference involving all stake holders and enforcement agencies from the all southern States will be organised.
“The agency areas of Visakhapatnam has become the hub for ganja cultivation and it is being smuggled across all states. We need an inter-State task force to curb the transportation and peddling,” he said.
According to him a peddler is more dangerous than a murderer, as he or she destroys an entire generation.
Additional Director General of CID, Amit Garg, said coordination between different government enforcement agencies and States is important, if ganja smuggling is to be curbed.
“There should be an inter-State database and cooperation and coordination, as the trade is pan India now,” he said. Mr. Garg said task forces in colleges also should be encouraged.
Mr. S.K. Sinha Zonal Director of Narcotics Control Bureau, Bangalore, said NCB is also planning to have a zone in Visakhapatnam.
Superintendent of Police Rahul Dev Sharma highlighted the challenges faced by the enforcement agencies, including threat from Maoists. He said owing to strict enforcement, the smugglers have changed tactics and were smuggling small quantity and using new routes through Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
AU Vice-Chancellor G. Nageswara Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor of GITAM deemed to be University K. Siva Ramakrishna, Principal of Andhra Medical College P.V. Sudhakar and others spoke about the responsibility of parents, teachers and colleges.
V. Ramakrishna, deputy director of DRI, K. Venkateswara Rao, director (Enforcement) Excise Department and Y. Sandhya, PD, Woman and Child Welfare, spoke.