Take stringent action to check drug menace: Virbhadra

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today called for concerted and coordinated efforts to check drug menace and instructed stringent action against offenders.

Chairing a meeting to assess the anti-drug abuse efforts in the state, Singh also appealed the NGOs in the state to open more de-addiction centres to help those in need.

"Stringent action should be taken against the drug smugglers and drug manufacturers. A few amendments need to be incorporated in rules and regulations to break the nexus between drug manufacturers, sellers and drug peddlers," he said.

He said the 'post-monsoon' was an appropriate time to uproot the cannabis grown in high hills of the state and instructed that the uprooted plants be completely destroyed.
 

"People indulging in cannabis cultivation should be persuaded to grow cash crops. Road network should be strengthened in the interior areas to keep tab on such activities which go unnoticed as the areas are not easily accessible," he said.

The Chief Minister also gave his nod for appointment of more drug inspectors in the Health department so that the chemists involved in sale of psychotropic drugs could be brought to book.

Stressing that the issue of rehabilitation of drug addicts was as important, he said the NGOs should come forward to open more de-addiction centres in the state.

"I request the people and the voluntary organisations to join hands and work with zeal, determination and sense of conviction to save the future generations falling prey to drugs," he said.

During the meeting Principal Secretary Health, Prabodh Saxena proposed writing to the centre to bring more drugs under the category of 'controlled drugs' to minimise their sale.

"Contravention under section 18 (c) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act can be made a cognisable and non-bailable offence which will act as a deterrent against misuse of drugs," Saxena said.

"A letter can be written to union health minister requesting him to declare few drugs as controlled drugs, so that check could be kept on chemists by conducting raids regarding the quantity of drugs in store," he added.