Who is growing opium inside Similipal National Park in Odisha? 

Is Odisha steadily turning right into a narcotics hub? The query has began haunting the minds of everybody after Forest, Excise and police officers destroyed opium poppy plantations in acres of woodland within the Similipal sanctuary. 

So, who’s behind this unlawful farming and that too inside a sanctuary? How lengthy this has been occurring? Why did it take so lengthy for the administration and the Forest Division to determine it out? 

In 4 phases, Forest, Excise officers and police have broken opium poppy plantations price Rs 40 crore contained in the sanctuary.      

In line with some native residents and observers, the worth of poppy seeds used as spices may be very excessive in numerous components of the state whereas the identical has been very low cost in native markets of Karanjia and Jashipur. It factors to the truth that poppy seed farming has been occurring within the space for a very long time. 

Opium is produced from the sap within the fruits of poppy seed crops, and it’s believed that the mafia is encouraging harmless tribals to take up poppy seed cultivation. The involvement of Maoists on this unlawful farming can’t be dominated out.
     
Dakshikna Mohant, a neighborhood resident stated, “Similipal has now grow to be a protected haven for opium poppy farming. We marvel how this unlawful farming has been occurring within the space although the forest officers and police have been patrolling the world. That is taking place within the information of the administration.”

Bhanumitra Acharya, former honorary wildlife conservator stated, “Forest and income employees are contained in the sanctuary. NGOs are working whereas police are sometimes getting into the world. When such an enormous authorities system is working, how may this occur inside a sanctuary.”

Rashi Rajyalaxmi Bhanjadeo, the royal scion of Mayurbhanj stated, “Mafia are working there. Solely harmless individuals are caught.” 

In line with the Odisha Forest Division, there are 36/37 villages within the core space of Similipal. The opium poppy is cultivated in two or three villages. The Excise division says there are a number of different areas the place opium poppy is being cultivated and the plantations will probably be destroyed quickly.

Baripada RCCF, Prakash Chand Gogineni stated, “When the crops began flowering, our employees reported that opium poppy cultivation is being carried out. The plantations have been destroyed. We’re gathering standing studies about how a lot was destroyed and the way a lot has been neglected.”

Excise superintendent of Mayurbhanj, Prashant Kumar Kanra stated, “We acquired details about this farming in direction of the top of February. Raids will probably be carried out. The general public ought to cooperate with us to utterly destroy the crops.”