Menace of drug trafficking a matter of concern for Mizoram govt: Governor
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Menace of drug trafficking a matter of concern for Mizoram govt: Governor

Aizawl, Feb 7 (PTI) Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Tuesday said the menace of drug trafficking and drug abuse has assumed alarming proportions in the state. He said the menace is of a great concern to the state government. “To control this menace, the state Excise and Narcotics department has made all-out efforts. As […]

   

Aizawl, Feb 7 (PTI) Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Tuesday said the menace of drug trafficking and drug abuse has assumed alarming proportions in the state.

He said the menace is of a great concern to the state government.

“To control this menace, the state Excise and Narcotics department has made all-out efforts. As a result, 4,348 persons were arrested under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, Mizoram Liquor (Prohibition) Act, 2019 and Mizoram Excise Act, 1973 during the current financial year (upto 31.12.2022),” the governor said while addressing the budget session state assembly.

He said that 4,755 drug related cases were registered during the same period.

He said that ‘Drugs and Children Survey, 2022’ conducted by Mizoram Social Defence and Rehabilitation Board of Social Welfare and Tribal Affairs department, was a pioneering research study, which manifested the government’s endeavour to prevent and reduce drug abuse in the state.

“During the past year, Mizoram Police seized huge quantities of illicit drugs and narcotic substances worth around Rs 829 crore in international market,” he said.

Kambhampati said that the state government has allocated Rs 920.71 lakh under its flagship programme – Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP) for upgradation of Jordan Rehabilitation Centre, a de-addiction centre in Kolasib district near Assam border.

He said that a resource centre for HIV/AIDS would be constructed in the state under Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) very soon.

The Mizoram Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Prevention and Control Rules, 2022 was approved and gazetted on November 1 last year, he said.

The governor said Mizoram Super Speciality Cancer Hospital and Research Centre would be constructed in Aizawl with financial support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The proposed Rs 700 crore project is under consideration by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, he said.

Quoting a Forest Survey of India Report 2021, the governor said Mizoram has the highest forest cover of 84.53 per cent among Indian states. Besides its richness in biodiversity, nearly 10 per cent of the state’s area is protected and conserved through two national parks, seven wildlife sanctuaries and one tiger reserve, he said.

According to Kambhampati, the first instalment of monetary assistance amounting to Rs 25,000 each under SEDP was provided to 60,000 beneficiaries in the first phase.

The second instalment is under process for which all the beneficiaries will be given additional grant of Rs 25,000 each, amounting to a total of Rs 150 crore, he said.

Phase-I is expected to be completed by the end of March, he added.

The Mizoram budget session began on Tuesday and chief minister Zoramthanga, who also holds the Finance portfolio, will present annual budget for the fiscal 2023-24 and supplementary demand for grants for the year 2022-2023. PTI COR RG

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