No check on growth of cannabis on railway land

Jaswant Shetra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 18

At a time when the state government has stepped up its drive against drugs, cannabis continues to grow on railway land in the district. The growth of cannabis is going on unchecked on the railway properties alongside the tracks.

The railway properties are proving to be a safe haven for drug addicts. The growth of cannabis is a huge cause of concern for people living in areas located alongside the tracks.

People living in residential areas said they often spotted drug addicts plucking cannabis grown on railway land.

“We often spot drug addicts plucking cannabis grown alongside the tracks. The government should increase vigil around the tracks to check the addicts because they can harm people as they are mostly in an inebriated condition,” said Rajpal, a resident of the Model Gram area.

The situation is similar in other towns and villages located near the tracks. “I have seen addicts rubbing weed in their hands on several occasions in the area. Though the area residents removed the weed, it grew again after some time. The railway authorities should clean their land because the addicts pose a risk to people, especially women and children,” said Sucha Singh, a resident of Sham Nagar.

Ludhiana railway station director Abhinav Singla said the weed grew on its own during the rainy season. “The growth of cannabis increases during the rainy season. The railway employees remove it on a regular basis but it again grows due to the ongoing rainy season. I will ask the employees to clean the railway land,” he said.