Odisha Steps up Enforcement Activities against Illegal Hemp Cultivation

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government has stepped up enforcement activities against illegal hemp cultivation with destruction of the crop in 22,217 acres during 2020-21.

Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review enforcement measures to prevent illegal hemp cultivation in the State.

The Chief Secretary directed to intensify enforcement activities through joint action among police, excise and revenue department officials. He also directed to spot the illegal hemp cultivation through collection of local intelligence.

It was also decided to apply the satellite and drone technology to locate the areas of illegal cultivation and destroy those before harvesting.

“Continue destruction of the crop before harvesting”, said Mahapatra while directing to identify the land record of the private persons in whose land hemp is cultivated and proceed against them stringently as per provisions of NDPS Act.

The Chief Secretary also urged the Collectors to prepare district-level action plan for prevention of this illegal means of earning through targeted alternative livelihood interventions.

They were asked to identify the tribal poor families who are living on this trade and provide them alternative livelihood opportunities through convergence of Odisha Livelihood Mission, National Livelihood Mission, MGNREGS, high return cash crop, agri-business, agro-product aggregation, small food processing units, goatery, poultry, integrated farming and similar other schemes.

Development Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena advised to intensify awareness and IEC activities in the identified villages with involvement of village community, PRI representatives, NGOs, SHGs, farmers’ clubs and educated youth.

He also asked to from village, GP and block level committees for creation of awareness, collection of information and promotion of alternative livelihood activities. It was also decided to enhance the grants under OLM, NRLM and departmental livelihood schemes in the vulnerable areas.