Himachal govt takes measures to check drug menace

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said the state government was taking effective steps to check drug menace and implementing the national policy on Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances formulated in 2012.
Replying to a private member resolution moved by BJP leader Inder Singh, the Chief Minister said that 622 cases of drugs related offences were registered in the state and 731 persons arrested in this regard.
A 'Narcotics cell' has been constituted in the Intelligence wing under the control of an officer of SP rank to check cultivation, smuggling and use of narcotic drugs and campaigns have been launched by involving voluntary organisations, school and college students for creating awareness about adverse effects of drug abuse, he said.

The CM added the government was aware of the problem and will continue its efforts to check drug menace by involving the civil society and related government departments like education, public relations, health and family welfare, social justice and empowerment, youth services, sports and panchayat and rural development.