Agartala, Oct 10, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, Oct 10: Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha raised several demands including setting up of a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) branch in Tripura to deal with drugs trafficking in the state
 
Dr. Saha, who among the other Chief Minister of North East states attended a meeting on drugs trafficking as part of 70th Plenary Meeting of North East Council in Guwahati held on October 8th and 9th last, also stressed on using technology like drones, allocating more central funds for anti-narcotics capacity building, providing vehicle scanner for proper patrolling on highways and strengthening surveillance on the border to intensify the fight was drugs.
 
In the meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah, the Chief Minister said, Tripura is a corridor for Drug trafficking; the drugs come from Myanmar and enter Tripura through Mizoram and Assam and then go to the final destination- Bangladesh.
 
“A branch of NCB has been proposed to be set up in Tripura. Besides, coordination with the Enforcement Directorate is equally important. Regular discussion with Bangladesh counterpart is required since Bangladesh is the end point of drugs supply,” Dr. Saha said in a press conference on Monday.
 
Taking part in the discussion, the Chief Minister also said the Tripura government is contemplating a plan to shift ganja cultivation to an alternative crop.
 
“In Tripura, ganja cultivation has been taking place for a long time. The state government is contemplating a plan to shift the ganja cultivation to any alternative crop. We also asked the NEC to study the possibility of any alternative crop,” the Chief Minister said.
 
Addressing the press conference at the civil secretariat, the Chief Minister said, Home Minister Amit Shah is serious about ending the drug menace in the North East as well as the whole country. He also highlighted the major achievements and initiatives of the Tripura government in the fight against drugs.
 
According to the Chief Minister, various important topics like 5G service, SDG, District Indicator Framework for North East, possibility of tourism industry in North East, investment in private sectors and entrepreneurship development were discussed in the meeting.
 
Tripura Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha and DGP Amitabh Ranjan, who were also present in the NEC Plenary meeting on the first day, also attended the press conference.
 
On the drug issue, the DGP said, the NCB highlighted in the meeting that synthetic drugs is being seen as a new and major threat in the country although it is yet to gain ground in Tripura.
 
He said, under the leadership of the Chief Minister, a narcotics coordination meeting would soon be held in the state; all departments would be brought together. He also said, specialized teams (Anti-Nartotics Task Force) would be formed to deal with the drugs trafficking; they would get connected on a large database for end to end connectivity and identification of syndicates involved in drugs trafficking.
 
On the second day of the meeting, the Chief Minister spoke on various priority sectors of the state.
 
He said, the central government came to the doorstep of the North East since Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister. The North East region witnessed a holistic development under the leadership of Modi over the past eight years.
 
Dr. Saha said, around 5 lakh domestic and foreign tourists visit Tripura every year. In this context, he sought central assistance for developing the Tourism sector in Tripura for socio-economic growth.
 
He also spoke on establishment of AIIMS and Agarwood Board (headquarters) in the state. He also emphasised on lowering import duty for exporting Tripura tea to Bangladesh, setting up modern facilities for rubber production. 
 
The Chief Minister also placed a proposal requesting the Bangladesh government for providing No Objection in developing Integrated Development Complex at Muhurighat and Manughat. 
 
In his address, the Chief Minister mentioned that loading and unloading of goods at the end point is a long-standing demand of the traders in India and Bangladesh. He placed a request in the meeting for considering the matter.
 
He also proposed to announce the gymnasium hall of Netaji Subhash Regional Coaching Centre as National Gymnastics Academy and allocate central funds for constructing a swimming pool of international standard.
 
The discussions also included commencement of Agartala- Chittagong international flight, Maitri Setu, extension of parcel van up to Kumarghat railway station for transportation of incense sticks, Rs.1300-crore package for Janajati development and other important matters.