Pulwama: The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Pulwama, Dr Basharat Qayoom on Tuesday chaired a meeting of members of District Level Committee of Narcotics Coordination (NCORD) at circuit House, Pulwama to review the progress and initiatives to curb the Drug Menace in the district.
At the outset, the DC instructed the officers to ensure monthly reports and action taken regarding drug abuse, illicit cultivation of poppy and cannabis and details of drug peddlers are submitted at all levels in a confidential manner for further action by law enforcement agencies.
He further conveyed that Annual performance appraisals of officers shall be linked to performance of each officer in curbing the drug menace as mandated for the concerned departments.
In phase Ist, six panchayats have been endorsed by respective gram Sabhas, PRI as Nasha Mukt on set parameters in the district. The same has been reiterated jointly by the officers comprising BDO/ Tehsildar/ BMO/ ZEO/ SHO/ Forest Range officers/CDPO and other relevant departments.
The remaining panchayats have also been taken up in a phased manner to achieve Nasha Mukt status.
The principals of various Govt. colleges of the district and CEO Pulwama were also directed to submit monthly reports about the identification of suspected Drug abusers in the colleges and Schools so that timely treatment and rehabilitation measures are put in place to reintegrate such victims into society with dignity.
SSP Awantipora informed the chair that number of poppy cultivators have been booked so far and the process of identification of people associated with the Drug peddling has been intensified.
The DC directed DSWO to make sure that all the facilities at Drug de-addiction Centre Tral are inplace, so that facility is fully utilised for rehabilitation of victims of drug abuse.
Chief Agriculture Officer Pulwama informed that Hybrid Vegetable seeds are being provided free of costs to farmers as an alternative to cultivation of Poppy.
The DC directed Assistant Drug Controller Pulwama and CMO Pulwama to ensure that CCTV cameras are installed at remaining medical shops, clinical establishments and chemist/ druggist shops so that overall surveillance with regard to the containment of drug sales is enforced.
Dr Bashay stressed on intensifying the crack down on the drug peddlers along with intensive awareness/sensitization campaign in more coordinated manner.
He instructed the officers to submit the list of shopkeepers who repeatedly violate the COTPA rules for initiation of legal action against them.
In his concluding remarks, Dr Basharat enjoined upon all officers to carry out exhaustive Nasha Mukt drives for mass public awareness and ensure that no patch of poppy and Cannabis remains unattended in the District.
ADC Pulwama, Awantipora & Tral shall monitor the same in their respective Divisions, and ACR shall monitor at District Level, he further directed.
