CANNABIS FARMING STILL FLOURISHES

Cannabis cultivation continues to flourish on a massive scale at
Chendipada and its adjoining areas in the district despite
destruction of plantations each year by the excise authorities. The
reason is that the kingpin behind the racket has remained elusive so
far. The authorities ended their drive after destroying the
plantations and registering cases against some of the local villagers
in this connection.

What is appalling is that authorities despite conduct raids in each
year are yet to establish the identity of the main culprits though
they admit their existence.

The excise authorities conducted raids for a stretch of 17 days in
seven phases in December and January in some places under the
Chhendipada police station area. The operation, said to be the
largest so far, covered an area of about 1.5 lakh acres.

The officials who conducted the raid burnt about 4.5 lakh cannabis
trees raised on government and forest lands in the peripheral
villages like Patrapara, Patakmunda, Raipal, Pururanagarh, Marudhipa
and Kanalaoi of Chhendipada.

The district excise superintendent, Mr Biswajit Dash, who conducted
the raids named Kalia Dehury as the main agent behind the cultivation
of cannabis in these areas. Cases had been registered against three
persons, including kalia, They are all absconding.

The cultivation is not only limited to chhendipada area, but have
spread to Kishorenagar area of the district and beyond the adjoining
borders of Sambalpur and Deogarh district.

The local villagers of this belt have been allured by the agents and
have given away their lands for cannabis plantations. One of the
villagers of Raipal was offered Rs 8,000 to let out his half acres of
land for four months.