Deep inside the dense forest lies an area off-limits to the general public, a landscape traversed by tigers and abundant wildlife. Yet, these natural barriers have failed to deter narcotics traffickers from initiating poppy cultivation in this improbable location.
The Similipal Tiger Reserve, one of the largest tracts of contiguous forest in the Odisha, has hit the headlines for wrong reasons again. This time, State police managed to track poppy cultivation taken up in 22 acres of land and destroy them in three back-to-back raids.
The Mayurbhanj District police on Saturday set 1,54,980 poppy plants on fire. The plantation was taken up on over five acres of land near Jojoguda and Phulbadi villages, inside the Similipal Tiger Reserve. The value of the destroyed opium plants is approximately ₹3.10 crore.
