Mann govt declares 'war on drugs’ to rid Punjab of menace in 3 months

The Aam Aadmi Party government today launched the “War on Drugs” campaign, aimed at ridding the state of the scourge of drug menace within three months. With focus on prevention, enforcement, de-addiction and rehabilitation, the new policy was unveiled by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the five-member Cabinet subcommittee headed by Finance Minister Harpal Cheema before officers of the civil and police administration today.

During around two-hour-long meeting with deputy commissioners, commissioners of police, senior superintendents of police, senior officials of the health, jails, sports, employment generation and home affairs departments, the CM reportedly asked them to go after the “big fish” involved in the illicit business.

The “bulldozer” model would continue. The government would not only seize properties of drug smugglers, but also continue with the demolition of their properties.

While the government plans to strictly regulate private drug de-addiction centres, it will also regulate the stock and sale of Schedule H prescription drugs sold over the counter to check drug addiction.

Though a law was formulated to cancel licences of those selling Schedule H drugs to addicts, it is not widely implemented. With 117 private drug de-addiction centres being run by just 10 persons and amid allegations of buprenorphine tablets from these centres being sold on the black market, the government plans to limit the number of centres that can be run by an individual, company or trust, said Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh. The DCs will not only inspect these private de-addiction centres, but also those run by the government and ensure that these have adequate nursing staff, psychiatrists and counsellors for patients.

The Education Department is also being roped in to take the fight against drugs to school and college level.

The CM said special courts would be set up to ensure speedy trial in drug cases. It should be ensured that drug peddlers or their families did not get any government subsidy, he added. “You won a war against militancy in the past. You can rid the state of this scourge too,” he exhorted the SSPs, while telling them that their work on acting against the drug peddlers will be evaluated every month.

Today’s meeting followed yesterday’s announcement of a five-member Cabinet subcommittee to combat drug menace. The committee, headed by Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, was appointed to oversee the action of police and health departments in addressing the issue. The other members of the committee are ministers Aman Arora, Dr Balbir Singh, Laljit Singh Bhullar and Taranpreet Singh Sond.

Meanwhile, AAP state president Aman Arora said while the BJP blamed Punjab for the drug menace, the fact was that drugs were smuggled from across the border. “The BSF jurisdiction was extended from 15 km (inside the International Border) to 50 km, but the smuggling continues unabated,” he said.