Bhubaneswar:Odisha government has decided to use drone to locate the illegal hemp cultivation areas with a view to ighten enforcement against illegal cultivation of hemp in the State,
The Odisha chief secretary , Suresh Mohapatra Tuesday directed the enforcement officials to engage drone and satellite imagery data to identify areas under cultivation of ganja.
Mohapatra was chairing a high level meeting on prevention of illegal hemp cultivation in the State.
The State principal secretary excise, Sushil Lohani, told the meeting that in a massive drive illegal ganja cultivatio over a total area.of 22,217 acres had been destroyed in 2020-21.
The chief secretary also directed the district collectors to prepare district level action plan to readicate the menance.
Development commissioner PK Jena, additional chief secretary home Sanjeev Chopra, Police DGP Abhay, principal secretary Panchyati Raj Ashok Meena and agriculture secretary Suresh Kumar Bashistha were present.
