TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: As the state law enforcement authorities are gearing up to commemorate International Anti Drug abuse day Wednesday, shacks, which have long been suspected of getting away with the sale of drugs, have been put under the scanner with Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) finally cracking down.
NCB’s Goa Zone Superintendent Ravi Kumar Rana told Herald that the crackdown will continue as the central agency has kept watch on all such places including clubs, discotheques and the shacks.
The state has been known as a conduit and a consumer state with quite a few of the law enforcement officials and certain politicians being named in the drug nexus. Some are facing inquiry and others have been suspended and even arrested.
However, officials claiming to be cracking down on the seamy underbelly of Goan tourism fuelled by late night parties and drugs, pointing out that recently, Shiva Valley, a well know spot in Anjuna, has been shut down for three years by State tourism department following the report by NCB, which confirmed that narcotics activity used to happen at this shack.
Rana said the bureau will soon start displaying anti-drug signboards at the places like clubs, discos and other eateries – covering 2,500 licensed establishments, so as to make people aware about drug abuse; steps to be taken as per the directives of Union Government. Implementation has already begun in places like Delhi, while in Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Punjab, banners are being displayed.
The signage is otherwise already being displayed at INOX multiplex in Panjim at the starting of every show on each of the four screens.
The NCB is also to provide a helpline for people, who want to inform about the narcotic trade or quit addiction. This is for the first time that such a nationwide activity is being taken up and Goa has been on the priority list, considering state’s positioning as a tourist spot.
Meanwhile, as state law enforcement authorities are gearing up to commemorate International Anti Drug abuse day Wednesday, NCB has expressed concern over the unauthorized de-addiction clinics mushrooming across the coastal belt. These apparently treat patients, especially the foreigners without informing the State authorities.
GMC has an authorized de addiction centre, but the numbers at this centre is much lesser compared to the private clinics, a senior NCB official said. The agencies have now decided to crack down on such medical facilities.
Meanwhile, the NCB Goa Zone has planned a week long awareness program at various institutions with major focus in schools and colleges.
