Bhubaneswar: A high-level review meeting was held today at Lok Seva Bhawan, chaired by Development Commissioner Anu Garg, to discuss strategies for eradicating ganja cultivation in ten affected districts. The meeting was attended by Collectors, SPs, Divisional Forest Officers, and Excise Officers from these districts.
Garg emphasised the need for Collectors to identify areas prone to ganja cultivation and take joint action with other departments to eradicate it. Principal Secretary Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma stressed the importance of regular information sharing between the Forest Department and district administration.
Excise Commissioner P. Anvesha Reddy presented a PowerPoint presentation on the complete eradication of ganja cultivation, highlighting various aspects of the plan. The meeting was also attended by IG STF Sarthak Sarangi, Additional Secretary Debashish Patnaik, and senior officers from the Excise Department and ORSAC.
This meeting is part of the state’s efforts to make Odisha ganja-free, with a focus on tribal areas and alternative livelihoods for those involved in ganja cultivation.
The Odisha Police has police launched a massive drive to eliminate cannabis cultivation, aiming to cover 10,500 acres by 2026. In Gajapati district, illegal ganja cultivation worth Rs 17 crore has already been destroyed.
