A joint team of Manipur Police, Forest Department and NAB destroyed illegally planted poppy plants on 120 hectares of land in 11 villages of Chandel district. The team also set ablaze 30 huts used in the plantation. A total of 2,500 kgs of opium could have been produced from the destroyed plants.
According to a press release by AFC Chandel, N Munal Meitei, the mass destruction started after Consumer Affairs Minister L Sushindro, Meitei went on an aerial survey over 13 villages in Chandel District on January 12. Munal said that Lhangpikot and Leijang villages were found to be clean from the illegal plantation for the last three years. However, a large force will be required to destroy the mass poppy plantation in Phaisi area and will also take a lot of time, the release added.
The release also added that the villages will face water scarcity after a period of time, plants will fail to grow in the places where poppies were planted and use of chemicals is also not entertained. The release also warned that Manipur has a high chance of becoming a desert if poppy plantation is not prohibited in the hill districts mainly Chandel, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi district.
Munal further added that now is the right time to destroy the poppy plants as it is the harvesting season. He also appealed to the people to cooperate in saving our state from becoming the second golden triangle.
