Bhubaneswar: Despite regular raids by the
police, illegal cultivation of ganja (cannabis) has been on
rise in Orissa over the years, official sources said.
While the police destroyed cannabis plantation over
1132 acre of land in eight districts in 2009-10, it found
locals taking up such illegal cultivation over 2035 acre
of land in 2010-11, they said.
"Destruction of ganja cultivation during crop season
of 2008-09 and 2007-08 were 741.4 acre and 802 acre
respectively," Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Crime
Branch Abhaya said.
The police along with excise department officials
destroyed such illegal cultivation in the districts of
Sambalpur, Angul, Malkangiri, Deogarh, Boudh, Rayagada,
Kandhamal and Gajapati, he said adding that highest 850 acre
of land were detected undertaking ganja cultivation in
Sambalpur district.
While illegal ganja cultivation was being done in
inaccessible and hilly areas dominated by Maoists, the
miscreants also use fertile and irrigated land in the
districts like Angul and Sambalpur.
As one kg of ganja leaves fetch Rs 400, miscreants
took its cultivation as a easy way to earn fast money, said a
senior excise department official adding that the trade was
prevalent in many southern and western Orissa districts.
PTI
