Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police has been able to destruct more than 23000 acres of illegal cultivation of cannabis in the year 2020-21, an all-time highest figure probably for the entire country.
Illegal cultivation of cannabis in some pockets of Odisha has been a major cause of
concern for police and other drug law enforcement agencies. The fact that most of
these pockets lie in hilly, forested, inaccessible and sometimes in Left Wing
Extremist affected areas makes the issue even more difficult and challenging.
Odisha Police launched a major drive against this illegal cultivation during the crop
year 2020-21 (usually the crop season starts in September-October and lasts in
February- March). The drive has resulted in all-time record of the destruction of more
than 23000 acres of illegal cultivation of cannabis.
It is worthwhile to mention that during the crop year 2019-20, this figure was around 18000 acres and in 2018-19 it was around 11600 acres.
During this drive, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Boudh and Rayagada districts
were top performers. This is not only an all-time highest figure for Odisha but probably for the entire country in one crop year.