MP Selja sounds alarm over growing drug crisis, criticises govt ‘inaction’

MP Kumari Selja has warned against the rapidly growing drug epidemic in the state, stating that it was destroying families and claiming lives of many young people.

Despite the government’s claims of making efforts, the situation was worsening and drug dealers continued to thrive, she added.

In a statement to the media, Selja described drugs as a ‘cancer’ spreading across Haryana, particularly in areas near Punjab and Rajasthan.

She said drug use and trafficking had reached alarming levels in regions such as Hisar, Sirsa, Bhiwani-Mahendragarh and Ambala.

Even areas bordering UP — Karnal and Sonepat — were facing major drug-related issues, she added.

The MP said, while the government talked of creating drug-free villages and passing resolutions, the real problem remained unchecked. The death toll from drug overdoses was rising, especially in places like Rori and Ratia, where several youngsters had died recently, she added.

Synthetic drugs had spread from cities to villages, adding to the crisis, she said.

Selja criticised the government’s lack of action, stating that the state was becoming synonymous with drugs, just as Punjab was known as “Udta Punjab”.

The BJP government’s “failure” to tackle drug trade had turned the state into a dangerous hotspot for trafficking.

The situation was compounded by the shortage of trained psychiatrists in de-addiction centres and the increasing number of women using drugs.

The MP also highlighted the lack of proper facilities for treatment.

In Sirsa, the Civil Hospital’s de-addiction centre was understaffed, and another centre in the nearby Kalanwali lacked specialised doctors, she said.

As a result, many parents were forced to take their children to other cities for treatment, she added.

Selja called for the police to take immediate action to break the chain of drug traffickers, and save the youth of the state from the growing epidemic.

‘Construct underpasses, overbridge to ease traffic’

Meanwhile, Selja also urged the government to construct two underpasses and an overbridge in the city to address severe traffic congestion caused by frequent railway gate closures. She emphasised the need for an underpass or overbridge at every railway crossing in populated areas to reduce traffic jams and improve daily commutes for residents.

The increasing traffic problems in Sirsa, primarily due to closed railway gates, have led to long delays and daily congestion. To alleviate this issue, Selja has called for an underpass at the Court Road railway gate, another at the Kanganpur Road railway gate, and an overbridge at the Chhatargadhi Patti railway gate. She stressed the urgency of these projects and urged the government to take immediate action.

Selja also highlighted that in 2019, former Chief Minister Manohar Lal had announced the construction of 51 underpasses across Haryana, including two in Sirsa. However, no progress has been made on these projects. Additionally, in 2015, an overbridge was announced for the Court Road railway gate, but bureaucratic delays have stalled its construction.

She stated that the biggest challenge for Sirsa residents today is traffic congestion caused by railway gates and the only effective solution is the construction of underpasses and overbridges. Raising the issue in Parliament, she questioned the government’s inaction and urged immediate steps to resolve the problem for the city’s development.

As Sirsa’s traffic woes continue to escalate, Selja reiterated that these infrastructure projects are essential for the city’s growth and smoother transportation.