Union Minister’s Response To 4 Questions In Parliament On Manipur Illegal Opium Poppy Cultivation

New Delhi:

Kangpokpi district reported the biggest space underneath unlawful opium poppy cultivation in Manipur at 17.49 sq. kilometres (sqkm), or 4,322 acres, in 2023-24, Union Minister for Setting, Forest and Local weather Change Bhupender Yadav mentioned as reported by the state authorities in a written reply to questions by Inside Manipur Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Singh within the Lok Sabha.

Mr Akoijam requested 4 questions: the district-wise particulars of complete areas of reserved forest, protected forest and unclassified forest in Manipur; the entire district-wise space lined by poppy plantation/cultivation; complete space of reserved forest, protected forest and unclassified forest affected by poppy cultivation/plantation, and particulars of measures taken by the federal government to counter the menace of poppy cultivation/plantation in forest areas in Manipur.

Senapati district reported the second-highest space underneath unlawful opium poppy cultivation at 9.44 sqkm, or 2,332 acres, the Union Minister mentioned. The third-highest was reported from Ukhrul district at 6.47 sqkm, or 1,598 acres.

The opposite areas underneath unlawful opium poppy cultivation in descending order are Churachandpur 6.02 sqkm (1,487 acres), Kamjong 4.21 sqkm (1,040 acres), Chandel 0.91 sqkm (224 acres), Tengnoupal 0.50 sqkm (123 acres), Noney 0.47 sqkm (116 acres), and Tamenglong 0.17 sqkm (42 acres).

The information is from the Manipur Distant Sensing Software Centre (MARSAC).

The dimensions of unlawful opium poppy cultivation by classification of the areas present ‘unclassed forest’ had 20.40 sqkm (5,041 acres) underneath poppy cultivation. Poppy plantation in protected forests was 19.24 sqkm (4,754 acres), reserved forests 3.47 sqkm (857 acres), proposed reserved forest 2.51 sqkm (620 acres), and guarded wildlife areas 0.06 sqkm (14 acres).

The entire space underneath unlawful opium poppy cultivation in 2023-24 in Manipur was 45.68 sqkm, or roughly 11,288 acres, based on the information from Manipur shared by the Union Minister within the Lok Sabha.

Mr Yadav mentioned the safety and administration of forests is primarily the accountability of the state authorities or the Union Territory involved.

“… Additional, with a view to counter the menace of poppy cultivation/plantation in forest areas in Manipur, varied measures are being taken by the federal government of Manipur which embody destroying of 77.44 sq. kilometre poppy cultivation by a mixed group of police, forests,    Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB) and paramilitary forces…” the Union Minister mentioned within the reply to Mr Akoijam’s 4 questions.

He mentioned the Manipur Police filed 2,351 narcotics-related instances between 2017 and 2023.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh final week posted visuals of the safety forces destroying unlawful opium poppy cultivation in several districts. He mentioned the ‘conflict on medicine’ marketing campaign will proceed.