Islamabad (Anantnag), Nov 30: In a major drive against the Bhung cultivation the Exercise Department with the assistance of police this year has destroyed the crop spread over 7636 Kanal of land in south Kashmir.
 “In Islamabad (Anantnag) district we have destroyed Bhung spread over 4606 Kanal of land while in Shopian and Pulwama districts the crop spread over 2650 Kanal and 380 Kanal have been destroyed,” said an official in the Excise Department.
 Unlike previous years when tall lush green plants of Bhung at its ripening stage could be seen on large patches of agriculture and horticulture land in many villages of Bijbehara, Pahalgam, Kulgam, Qazigund, Pulwama, Tral and Shopian in the autumn season this time around it was quite different.
 “In Bijbehara belt alone 80 percent of the villages used to be under the cultivation of this crop but the Excise officials with the assistance of police this year launched a major drive in the area and succeeded in getting the major chunk of land both agriculture and horticulture rid of the crop,” said Excise and Taxation  Officer Muhammad Altaf Rather.
 He said that the Bhung crop was completely wiped out from some of the villages in the area where it was cultivated in abundance and which were considered notorious for Charas smuggling.
 The villages he said included; Krandigam, Dupatyar, Ghantalipora,Thajiwara, Takiabal, Kandipora, Upsan, Kanilwan, Laribal, Hayar, Waghama, Satkipora, Kanelwan, Semthan, Veeri, Naboog Sallar, Kullar, Srigufwara, Wachi, Kawun, Bandina, Dangripora and Tulkhun.
 “Lot of efforts have been put together to curb the menace which has damaged our social fabric,” said Rather.
 The situation had reached alarming proportions and in the year 2009 with revenue department putting the number of Kanal under only the use of this crop across the valley at 11 thousand Kanal.  The rampant Bhung cultivation in the area had given birth to the intra-village mafia making the lives of people miserable.
 “Our children were falling prey to this drug menace and people who are concerned about this had send their children to Srinagar or outside states for studies. Even the schools used to witness thin attendance during the harvest season as the students used to be busy in Bhung fields,” villagers said.
 They, however, said that this year due to the efforts of the Excise department they have heaved a sigh of relief and hoped that the exercise will continue next year too.
  “Despite facing shortage of manpower this year we launched a massive drive against Bhung cultivation throughout valley destroyed Bhung cultivated on more than 10,000 Kanals of land”.
 He said that the drive will continue till the last Bhung plant is uprooted and from next year onwards the department will ensure that drive is initiated at the beginning when the crop is sown.
 “It is a long drawn battle and we are on it,” the ETO added.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 1 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST