Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday reiterated that the state government will not compromise on any drug-related issues and warned that if underground outfits under Suspension of Operation (SoO) are found involved in poppy cultivation, the government will withdraw the SoO agreement.
Biren was responding to the policy cut motion raised by Opposition MLA Surjakumar Okram on the demand, ‘Police’ moved by leader of the House during the ongoing third session of 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly on Saturday.
Opposition MLA Surjakumar Okram raised the motion for disapproval of policy cut motion on account of inadequate budgetary provision for War on Drugs campaign especially for poppy destruction.
Responding to the policy cut motion, leader of the House, N Biren Singh, who is also home minister of the state, said that after completion of setting up of the 34 police outposts at the border areas of Manipur, the state police can prevent 80-90 per cent drugs imported inside the state through the porous border.
He said the government has been providing adequate necessary assistance on alternatives to poppy cultivation but the government will not consider the demand for compensation for destruction of poppy cultivation.
Poppy plants are cultivated in remote hilly areas of the state by some people intentionally to attack the society, the CM said.
Biren also stated that the government made SoO agreement with underground outfits to bring peace but if the SoO underground outfits are found involved in poppy cultivation, then there is no need to make the SoO agreement.
The government will consider it as an indirect attack to the society with the help of drugs and in such circumstances, necessary steps, including withdrawing SoO agreement might be taken up, he added.
He assured the House that in the coming crop season, not even 10 per cent of poppy will be harvested and the government will continue destruction of poppy cultivations. With the help of satellite images and drones the government is continuing identification of illegal poppy plantations in the remote areas. The government is also using drones for spraying herbicides to destroy poppy plants, the CM said.
He said the herbicides, which are used while destroying poppy cultivation, are recommended by experts and have minimal side effects on the people and environment.
CM Biren further said the state government is providing alternative crops to poppy cultivation and appealed to the people not to put conditions while for alternative cropping against poppy cultivation.
