PANAJI
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has impressed upon the need to take a new year resolution to make it a mission to ensure 2018 is observed as ‘anti-drugs' and ‘anti-accident' year, even as he countered his legislator Michael Lobo's contention that drugs are not linked to music.
Replying to a calling attention motion on the issue of availability of drugs in the state, the Chief Minister sought to allay the fears expressed by his legislator colleagues who sought to portray a picture that Goa's youth were going "Udta Goa" way.
"It (the drug problem) is not as bad as or as deep-rooted as you think. I got only two responses to the letter I sent to the MLAs requesting to give me concrete information on the availability of drugs. We are working on that information," Parrikar said.
"I know this because the counselling scheme for schools we have drafted... Through this we know the drug problem is not massive. A student or child who is on drugs starts behaving strangely. If money starts disappearing that is the first sign. Then things start disappearing and robberies. In some cases
there are even murders," Parrikar said.
"Let us consider 2018 as anti-drugs and anti-accidents year. We are forming special teams for this," Parrikar said adding that the government would take it up as a mission.
Parrikar said that the government would nonetheless be strengthening its mechanisms to tackle psychotropic drugs and their availability.
"We need specialised trained manpower to conduct routine checks. I intend to strengthen this cell with more than triple the manpower. We will also get some specialized persons with knowledge of drugs. We need a special squad with more intelligence and more capability," Parrikar said adding that the technology of drugs evolved continuously and the enforcement would also need to keep pace.
Pratapsing Rane had moved a calling attention motion citing the need to take urgent and strict action against persons who are known to the drug mafia and come to Goa to operate the illegal drug trade. Such suspected persons should be caught and sent out of the state as ‘persona non grata', he stated.
Parrikar also promised de-addiction and rehabilitation centres as demanded by several legislators including Michael Lobo and others. "De-addiction centres are being set up," Parrikar said citing how detention centres are being set up for those foreigners who are to be deported.
"One has been created at Mapusa at the old police station and another one will be set up. We are also creating a beggar home. De-addiction centre will also be activated," Parrikar said referring to the detention centres for foreigners.
Parrikar also revealed the extent of the crackdown on drug peddlers to reveal that a total of 74,455.071 kgs of psychotropic drugs worth Rs 2.55 crore were seized this year up to December 13.
Earlier, several legislators raised the issue of the drug problem as well as the extent of it saying that it was available around schools, and that young drug addicts regularly sit in dark corners around village roads to either inject or sniff drugs.
