Ranchi: In an appeal to the mukhiyas of Latehar, Palamu, Khunti and Chatra through video conferencing to help the state government make the state addiction free, Chief Secretary Raj Bala Verma on Monday said that anti-social elements want to carry out illegal opium farming which needs to be eliminated.
�After taking oath, mukhiyas and lok sevaks work in the interest of the people. Their duty is linked with rights. Hence, they should leave no stone unturned in making their panchayats crime free, corruption free and addiction free,� said the CS.
Verma said that illegal farming of opium is a punishable offence and the Union as well as the State have adopted zero tolerance policy over opium production. Through intense checking, opium crop is being destroyed in many districts. If the govt. gets accurate information, the crop will be destroyed through campaign. She appealed to the mukhiyas to help the police and government in making addiction-free state.
DGP D. K. Pandey was also present on this occasion. Stressing on the need to fight addiction by elaborating on the NDPS Act 1985, he said that opium was not only affecting the youths but was also being misused by anti-national forces and extremists.
He said that mukhiyas, panchs and all other officials in the panchayats owe constitutional responsibilities to inform the government about such illegal activities. Some mukhiyas also addressed the meeting through video conferencing and repeated their commitment for an addiction free society.