ITANAGAR, July 30 � Admitting that the illegal drug peddling and opium cultivation were continuing to pose a serious threat to Tirap and Changlang districts as well as other parts of Arunachal Pradesh, State Home Minister Tanga Byaling divulged that the State Government is going to frame a comprehensive policy soon to contain the drug menace.
Replying to a supplementary question from Wanglam Sawin in the Assembly on Monday, the Home Minister informed that altogether, 140 cases under the NDPS Act have been registered in the State, including 13 cases in Tirap and 62 in Changlang district totaling 95 cases, during the period from 2012 to 2014 upto June.
Moreover, 196 drug peddlers, including five Myanmar nationals were arrested in the State with the seizure of large quantities of illicit substances including 850 kg ganja, more than 26 kg opium and over two kg heroin/brown sugar, besides other substances over the said period of time.
To put a check on reported drug peddling from Myanmar to Tirap-Changlang-Longding districts, the Minister told the House that suitable instructions have been issued to the district police to step up vigil on such activities and take immediate action as per law.
Besides, patrolling and checking of vehicles during day and night has been intensified in these districts and anti-drug operation to destroy poppy cultivation launched, he said adding that so far, poppy cultivation fields measuring 322.5 acres, 863.25 acres, 176.5 acres, 435 acres and 241 acres and 310 hectares were destroyed during the years 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 respectively.
He also said that to put a full stop on the drug menace, mass awareness needs to be generated and the villagers practising poppy cultivation asked to take on alternative crop for their income-generation and sustainable development.
The Home Minister told the House that with the contentious inter-State boundary dispute between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, now pending with the Supreme Court, the apex court-appointed Local Boundary Commission has so far held 19 hearings since its inception in 2006. The next date of the hearing is fixed on 12.09.2014.
He also informed that the most disputed border areas were Taraso, Kimin, Likabali, Kangku, Bhalukpong, Seijosa and Kamku-Russa. He added that a number of meetings have taken place between the Governments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam to maintain peace and status-quo all along the inter-State boundary areas.
