Multi-department approach to curb ganja menace in Kurnool

In an effort to curb ganja cultivation, the Kurnool district administration is engaging agriculture and forest officials to find the cultivation of ganja as an inter-crop or in forest areas. The Transport department has been roped in to crack down on ganja transportation.

At a recent meeting with all the departments concerned, District Collector P. Ranjit Basha said ganja is probably getting cultivated on chilli fields. As such, agriculture officials on field visits should alert the police should they come across ganja cultivated amidst normal crops, the Collector told the officials. The direction comes after police recently found three persons cultivating ganja amidst chilli crop at Rowduru in Kowtalam mandal and destroyed 182 ganja plants.

The forest officials were also told to look for cultivation of ganja and distilling of illicit liquor on hills or in forests. The Excise department was asked to crack down on belt shops and maintain vigil on Telangana-Karnataka border.

Transport and RTC officials were asked to conduct joint inspections to prevent transportation of ganja.

According to the police, they have been regularly checking trains and buses, in coordination with railway and RTC officials, to curb illegal transportation of ganja into the district. The police said they are also keeping a tab on ‘sadhus’ from other parts of the country visiting Shiva temples in the district, since they might possess ganja seeds, which could be procured by locals to cultivate ganja.

Managements of educational institutions, universities and others were also asked to spread awareness among the youth about the ill-effects of drugs and to form committees to prevent drug consumption.