Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

Narcotouri­sm in Kasol: Take action, HC tells HP govt

Court observes that there is an organised cultivatio­n of cannabis in Kullu, says NCB not equipped to handle the drug menace

- Saurabh Chauhan letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

SHIMLA : The Himachal Pradesh high court , in an effort to deal with the drug men ace in the state, has directed the chief secretary to file his personal affidavit regarding the unauthoris­ed constructi­on and running of hotels or commercial establishm­ents without statutory sanctions, more specifical­ly at Kullu’s Kasol, in famous for narco-tourism.

It also observed that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is not sufficient­ly equipped to handle the drug menace.

The court also directed the director general of police (DGP) to file the action taken report in the matter.

Acting chief justice Sanjay Karol and justice Sandeep S harm a passed these orders on a petition taken up suomoto by the court as public interest litigation (PIL) on affidavits filed by the zonal director, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh, in a separate criminal appeal.

The court observed that as per reports, there is an organised cultivatio­n of cannabis in the higher reaches in Kullu district, in the sub-division of Kullu, Sainj Valley, and there is wild growth of cannabis in Chamba, Kangra, Upper Shimla and areas adjoining Uttarak hand, but situation in Ku ll u-Man ali Valley is alarming and despite the sanction of considerab­le funds for destructio­n of illicit cannabis, the situation is very distressin­g.

In its earlier order, the court had directed the Kullu superinten­dent of police (SP) as well as the NC B zonal director on October 25 to constitute a joint task force to raid all restaurant­s, hotels andd ha basin and around Kasol and Malana to stop illegal activities related to drugs.

The joint task force was also directed to visit Malana village and ensure complete eradicatio­n of contraband and take action against people indulging in illegal trade of contraband­s.

Kasol is a village in district Ku l lu situated on the banks of the Parvati river, on the way from Bhuntar to Manikaran. It is favourite spot for Israeli tourists.

COURT OBSERVATIO­NS

The Court observed that the NC B is not sufficient­ly equipped to handle the drug menace.

“The destructio­n campaigns are merely on paper and nothing has been done on the ground by the NCB or state police for curbing the drug men ace in the state ,” the court observed.

The situation in the entire state is quite alarming but at present Malana village appears to be the epicentre of drug men ace and immediate steps are required to be taken by agencies concerned.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India