the goan I network
MAPUSA
Asserting that his government had zero tolerance towards drug abuse, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant chastised the opposition for making wild allegations that drugs were available in colleges and schools.
The chief minister also defended the police stating that time and again, cops had conducted raids and booked cases.
“No drugs are sold in any of the education institutes in Goa. We have adopted zero tolerance policy against drug trafficking. We should not make wild allegations without proper knowledge,” Sawant said.
The chief minister was responding to Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginald Lourenco, who said drugs were openly available in colleges and along the restaurants in the coastal belt.
Initially, the Congress turned BJP MLA Francisco Silveira conceded a self-goal during the Question Hour stating that drugs were openly available in the coastal belt of North and South Goa.
“It has now reached in colleges and schools, but police have failed to take steps to stop the students and curb the menace,” he said.
He further accused the police of working hand in gloves with some of the errant students.
“When I complain to the police, the cops inform the suspects and when they
Sawant says process on to upgrade narcotics lab
MAPUSA: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed the Goa assembly that the State narcotic laboratory had its limitation, but the government was in the process of upgrading it in the next six months.
“There is no facility to analyse drugs other than charas and ganja at the Goa State Forensic Science Laboratory. However, the process to make the narcotic division of forensic science lab fully functional has been initiated,” Sawant said.
“We want Goa to be drug mukt. We want good tourism. Our government will be strict on drugs,” he added. The CM also said police have taken various pro-active steps to curb drugs menace in the State.
He said government has formed an anti-narcotic task force committee comprising various law enforcement agencies for better cooperation to combat trafficking of drugs, even as June 26 was observed International Anti-Drug Day.
He further said that bars, restaurants and shacks along the drug-prone belt were subject to surprise and constant checks and awareness campaigns have been conducted in schools and colleges.
