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Drones to map ganja harvesting zones
In a joint operation, the excise and police personnel using drones for identifying the crop, destroyed ganja plants in an area of 103 acres in four mandals in the Agency during the last three days.
Visakhapatnam: In a joint operation, the excise and police personnel using drones for identifying the crop, destroyed ganja plants in an area of 103 acres in four mandals in the Agency during the last three days.
The Excise department has for the first time used three drones to map the area of cultivation and based on the images, the teams conducted raids and destroyed the crop, said Superintendent of Police (Visakha Rural) Rahul Dev Sharma and Assistant Commissioner of Prohibition and Excise (Enforcement) SVVN Babji Rao.
Highlights:
- Excise department has for the first time used three drones to map the area of cultivation and based on the images, the teams conducted raids and destroyed the crop
- The officials used chemicals sprayers engaging helicopters to destroy ganja plants
Addressing a press conference here on Monday, both the SP and Assistant Commissioner said they sourced satellite images of ganja cultivation for which a Hyderabad-based firm was assigned the job.
“The images were clear and we have successfully destroyed ganja plantation in about 102 acres in Gudalamveedhi, Samarangi and Kumbidisingi under G- Madugula mandal, Arlada, Tadagiri, Edulagondi and Chikalaputtu areas under Hukumpeta mandal, Boddaputtu, Lingaputtu and Thotalagondi under Paderu mandal and Chidiputtu under Pedabayalu mandal in Vizag Agency. Our main aim is to wean away tribals from growing ganja by suggesting and supporting them to switch over to horticulture crops,’’ the SP said.
Since they were facing difficulties in destroying ganja plants by engaging workers, the police and excise officials now have decided to use of chemical spray at the plantation to destroy the crop for good. Some scientists in the agriculture and horticulture departments are working for suitable chemical compounds for killing ganja plants.
“Chemical spray can be done through air using smaller aircrafts or engaging helicopters,’’ both the officials said. But this is still in the planning stage, the SP added.
The police have invoked PD Act against 14 ganja smugglers in past two years and are gearing up to register cases against five more smugglers and will also confiscate the properties of the smugglers, he added.
