Punjab ministers hit the ground to enforce drive against drugs

Bathinda/Jalandhar/Patiala: At least four Punjab ministers, all of them member of a five-member cabinet sub-committee formed to combat the drug menace, on Thursday hit the ground to ensure the enforcemenmt of the state govt's latest drive against narcotics.
The ministers took stock of preparations to intensify efforts to end the menace and held meetings with district officials.
Sub-committee chairperson and finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema held a special meeting with civil administration and police officers at the district administrative complex in Ropar. He said the conviction rate under NDPS Act in Ropar had reached 95% — 3% higher than last year — whereas under previous govts, the conviction rate was registered at the lowest level. "The supply of drugs has been prevented on a large scale in all districts of the state, due to which the number of drug addicts coming to drug de-addiction centres and outpatient opioid-assisted treatment (OOAT) clinics for treatment has increased. Instructions have already been issued to the health department to ensure that quality treatment services are provided to patients reaching govt centres," said Cheema.
Transport minister Laljit Singh Bhullar visited the border districts of Ferozepur and Fazilka, while health minister Balbir Singh visited de-addiction centres in Faridkot and Moga.
Punjab minister and Aam Aadmi Party state president Aman Arora reviewed steps and actions taken by Jalandhar district civil and police authorities to "completely eliminate the drugs from the district". He said police had been given a free hand to act against drug networks, ensuring no offender was spared. He also directed the health department to ramp up facilities at de-addiction centres to accommodate more patients in view of the ongoing war against drugs. "Punjab is mulling to procure cutting-edge anti-drone technology to curb cross-border drug and arm smuggling," he said.
In Faridkot and Moga, Balbir Singh said drug dealers and traffickers will now either be in jail or will have to move out of Punjab. "The govt is determined to root out drug abuse from the state," he said. In Ferozepur, a T-shirt against drug abuse was also released during the day.