DC Kathua Rahul Pandey reviews measures taken to curb drug menace at NCORD meeting

Kathua : Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Rahul Pandey today chaired a meeting of the District Level Committee under the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) to discuss measures to curb the drug abuse and narcotic trade in the district.

At the outset, the Committee apprised the meeting about the action taken by all stakeholders to keep a check on drug abuse. While taking feedback from officers on the Action Taken on decisions taken in the last DLC on NCORD, the DC asked the stakeholder departments to act in a coordinated manner.

He enjoined upon the officers to ensure zero tolerance against the perpetrators of drug trade and take measures for treatment and rehabilitation of the drug users. The DC directed the Agriculture department to work in tandem with the Forest Department to undertake destruction drives in areas where wild growth and illegal cultivation of cannabis and poppy were reported.

The DC called upon the Commandant, BSF to follow a two-way mechanism of information sharing with civil and police administration to keep vigil on narcotic smuggling activity in the border belt. He said a high vigil is required in areas along the International border as the area has witnessed attempts to push narcotic drugs from across the border.

Reviewing the Drug de-addiction and rehabilitation scenario of the district, the DC directed CMO, Assistant Controller Drugs, CEO, District Social Welfare Officer, ACD Kathua, Chief Agriculture Officer alongwith BSF authorities to keep a strict vigil over illicit drug supply and sales and take effective countermeasures to weed out drug menace.

The meeting also reviewed the status of installation of CCTV surveillance systems in pharmacy shops to keep a check on the unauthorised sale of drugs, the DC directed Assistant Controller Drugs to enforce the mandatory installation of CCTV in all such establishments dealing with the over the counter sale of medicines within specified timelines.

It was revealed in the meeting that the licenses of ten pharmacy shops have been suspended, while 24 samples from different shops have been lifted for inspection recently. The CMO apprised the meeting that a drive to identify drug addicts has been taken up by the Health Department, besides a regular inspection of Drug De-Addiction Centres is being done and all the inmates are being tested for HIV and Hepatitis-B.

The DC also called upon ADCs and SDMs to ensure that regular awareness drives be conducted in schools and colleges where officers of civil and police administration educate young students about the ill effects of drug abuse and motivate them to choose a healthy lifestyle.

The DC asked the Committee members to work in close coordination and put in dedicated efforts to make Kathua a drug free district.CPO Kathua, Uttam Singh, CEO Kathua P.L Thapa, DSWO Kathua Abdul Rahim and other concerned officers were also present.