IT News
Imphal, May 12:
Joint Tribe Council (JTC) & Joint Tribe Students’ Association (JTSA) on behalf of the four cognate tribes of Inpui, Liangmai, Rongmei and Zeme today submitted a declaration to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, supporting the State Government’s War on Drugs Campaign by declaring ‘Drug and Poppy Free Zone’.
The declaration reads that The Indigenous Four Cognate Tribes of Inpui, Laingmai, Rongmei and Zeme had never practiced poppy plantation nor been involved with any kind of illegal drugs since time immemorial. The declaration further stated that following the sincere and righteous footsteps of our forefathers, the four Cognate Tribes of Input, Liangmai, Rongmei & Zeme reiterate our stand against illegal drugs and poppy plantation. The Joint Tribes also resolved to continue preserving, conserving the unadulterated forests, its resources and give life a valuable living’.
Addressing the media, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh appreciated the Joint Tribe Council & Joint Tribe Students’ Association (JTSA) for giving support to the Government at all times, particularly in its fight against drugs, in the wider interest of the people. Continuing that the State had been facing problems of drugs related activities which are detrimental to future generations, he maintained the Government had started the War on Drugs Campaign to uproot the ill effect of drug menace in the State.
Stressing on the harmful effect of poppy cultivation on the environment including deforestation, degradation of soil fertility and pollution of water, he appealed to all those carrying out drugs related activities to stop it and come out in support of the War on Drugs Campaign. He informed that mass campaigns had been started by meeting locals of different villages to provide awareness to the people about the ill effects of poppy plantation.
The Chief Minister also informed a meeting of concerned officials from different Departments including Forest and Police about the encroachment of land at Reserve Forest and Protected Forest areas of the State. He continued that DFOs had been instructed to ensure that no deforestation activities are carried out at Reserved and Protected Forest.
Further, DFOs are advised to take action against any person involved in poppy plantation by registering FIR and also to start carrying out afforestation activities.
Informing that the Government had received reports of subletting Government quarters by some employees who had been allocated quarters in their names, he appealed to stop such activity and also warned that action would be initiated against those Government employees who sublet their quarters. Stating on the recent operation taken on using flag post on vehicles, he stressed that the operation had been taken up to check misuse of flag post vehicles in carrying out illegal activities.
Representatives of the Joint Tribe Council (JTC) expressed the decision to stand against illegal drugs and poppy plantations after consultation with villagers, taking concern on the future of the State. Expressing hope that the War on Drugs Campaign would be successful and the State would become a drug free zone one day, the JTC appealed to all communities of the State to join hands and stand together to uproot drug menace from the State.
Chairman, Hill Areas Committee and MLA for Nungba AC Dinganglung Gangmei and MLA for Tamenglong AC Janghemlung Panmei also attended the press conference.
