Kathua : Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rakesh Minhas on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the District Level Committee under the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) to discuss anti-drug measures initiated to curb the drug abuse and narcotics trade in the district.
The meeting discussed at length the incidence of drug addiction, hotspots of drug abuse besides measures taken by law enforcement agencies to curb the menace.
The Assistant Drug Controller informed that out of 428 medical shops, 416 have installed CCTV cameras along with DVRs to keep a check on over the counter sale of psychotropic drugs.
The DC directed ADCs and SDMs to keep a strict vigil on the sale of OTCs, besides conducting random inspection of pharmaceutical shops to ensure functioning of CCTV surveillance syste
The DC stressed on mapping all those vulnerable spots in the district which either have reported cases of drug addiction or its supply. He further asked to launch an awareness campaign to encourage the community to bring the victims of drug abuse into the mainstream.
The DC asked CEO Kathua to ensure that no shops shall sell products like cigarette, tobacco or other psychotropic substances within the radius of 100 meters of the schools and take mandatory certificates in this regard from concerned school administration. He stressed on the counseling of parents during parent teacher meets.
The DC called upon stakeholder departments to keep proper surveillance in vulnerable pockets of the district including border areas by adopting better coordination.
The meeting was attended by SSP, Shivdeep Singh; ADC, Deepika Rana; SDM Hiranagar, Manisha Koul; CMO, Dr Rakesh Mangotra; DSWO and other officers from civil administration. Besides ADC Billawar and Basohli, SDM Bani attended the meeting virtually.
