New Delhi, Nov 06: Confronted with the problem of huge stocks of raw opium and large imports of processed opium due to inadequate domestic processing facilities, government today decided to allow private players in opium processing. Stating that this would require a legislative amendment, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters after a cabinet meeting that currently there were only two opium processing industries in the country.
As against 700 metric tonnes of opium production, only 122 metric tonnes of opium was processed, she said adding there was an anomalous situation of piled up opium and high import of processed opium.
As a result the country had to undertake exports of raw opium, the minister said, adding that India was among the top 11 opium producing countries.
The minister said any private player could apply for a licence for setting up a opium processing unit.
While one opium processing industry was located at Neemach in Madhya Pradesh, the other was situated at Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh, she said.
Currently opium processing is under the exclusive control of the Central government. Bureau Report