The Sambalpur district administration on Saturday conducted a raid in several villages in the dense forest areas under Naktideul block of the district and damaged ganja plants in over 30 acres.
The destroyed plants are estimated to worth about Rs 50 crore. This is the second raid in less than a month.
Sambalpur Collector LN Nayak told the Hindustan Times that the raids would continue on Sunday as ganja had been cultivated in a large scale in the area.
On November 20, ganga worth Rs.16 crores was damaged in the same area by a joint team of revenue, police, excise and forest department headed by Sambalpur SP Sanjay Kumar. He got a tip-off about large scale cultivation of ganja.
Since then Kumar kept track of the area as it is also affected by Maoist activities. "There is a possibility of money generated from the trade being channellised to the Maoists," he said.
After getting more information, the joint team again raided the area on Saturday morning with 20 labourers and 50 staff of revenue, police, excise and forest departments and armed CRPF force.
{{/usCountry}}After getting more information, the joint team again raided the area on Saturday morning with 20 labourers and 50 staff of revenue, police, excise and forest departments and armed CRPF force.
{{/usCountry}}The raid continued till 4 pm when it becomes dark in the forest area.