Poppy and the land laws
IFP Bureau3 Mar 2024
The issue of deforestation due to jhum cultivation has been debated enough. But now, the more pressing issue is of the devastation caused by poppy cultivation and its methods.
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The issue of deforestation due to jhum cultivation has been debated enough. But now, the more pressing issue is of the devastation caused by poppy cultivation and its methods.
The issue of land reforms in the hills of Manipur had been made very complicated over the years by some powerful lobbies particularly the Kuki chieftains by spicing it with wrong notions of indigenous land rights.
It takes only three months to harvest opium from the poppy fields. The issue of deforestation due to jhum cultivation has been debated enough. But now, the more pressing issue is of the devastation caused by poppy cultivation and its methods.
Mangneikam Haokip, 45, the village chief of Lanchah village, Chassad, Kamjong district was arrested on February 6, 2023 in connection with two FIRs against him under section 18 (b) and 18/46 of ND and PS Act by Chassad police for poppy cultivation.
Nothing is transparent in the narcotics business as made out to be and it is about who is controlling or managing the perceptions.
Eviction of illegal encroachment and settlement in reserve and protected forest land were protested while adding a communal tinge, even though the eviction drive was taken up irrespective of community across Manipur.
The idea of destroying poppy fields before harvest is to cut the revenue stream of the cartel bosses and to discourage any future effort to resort to poppy plantation again in the hills of Manipur.
A public meeting to be held at Pishum Hao ground on October 7 to tilt the demand on the state government to materialise the defence minister’s assurance to destroy poppy plantation using the IAF.
A seminar to stop poppy cultivation was was held by the Ukhrul district administration in collaboration with several CSOs, village authorities and church bodies at UBC Jubilee Hall, Khamphasom in Ukhrul on Thursday.
Controlling poppy cultivation requires a multipronged strategy.
Now after a lull of nearly three months, the drug route in Manipur is open once again and business as usual.
There are deeper reasons behind the present Manipur conflict and widespread poppy cultivation in the hills is one of them.
Chief Minister Biren inaugurated the Agri Horti Expo for Organic and Indigenous Products of Manipur & Buyer Seller Meet at Hapta Kangjeibung, Imphal.
In 2022-2023, drugs worth Rs 136.93 crore were seized, according to a report from Manipur police
Chief Minister N Biren Singh has reiterated appeal against poppy plantation, illegal drug business in Manipur, saying that the government will not compromise on its War on Drugs campaign.
Villagers have decided to eradicate the use of poppy from their community and take aggressive measures to deal with the problems, Khamasom Phungdhar village chairman stated.
A total of 350.75 hectare of area under illegal poppy cultivation, including 62 hectare inside Reserve Forest, 206.3 hectare inside Protected Forest, and 81.43 hectare under Unclassed Forest has been cleared till date.
Minister Th Biswajit suggested that the state government announce a strong punishment for poppy plantation.
The total value of opium from the plantation will be approximately Rs 10,2,90,000 if calculated at the rate of Rs 70,000 per kg at the local market, Tousem SDO Paul Nangsha said.
IFP Editorial: Manipur horticulture department needs to come forward and educate the hill people on the advantages of practicing horticulture.