Stating that strict action is being taken to damage the financial resources of ganja traders, Home Minister Anitha Vangalapudi said that if anyone is caught in the ganja case, welfare schemes are being suspended. She said that assets worth Rs 7 crore have been seized so far. She revealed that she is going to the sources of the kingpins and holding all those associated with them accountable.
She clarified that she is being strict with those who make money by taking advantage of the innocence of tribals. She said that de-addiction centers are being set up with the seized assets. She said that she has zeroed out the cultivation of ganja, which has become a financial source for YSRCP leaders. She commented that the agency area, which is known as the ganja center, has been cleared of slander and Araku has brought back its broad image.
Anitha said that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu suggested the name Eagle to the ganja eradication team with the aim of keeping an eagle eye on ganja. She appreciated that the Eagle team members are working efficiently and said that special teams have been formed and an iron fist has been imposed on marijuana.
She alleged that during the previous government, marijuana cultivation was encouraged through a cottage industry. She said that incidents of marijuana even getting into school children’s bags were seen during the previous government. She said that more than 800 cases have been registered in the past year regarding marijuana and thousands of people have been arrested.
The Home Minister revealed that more than 40 lakh plants of various types have been distributed while promoting alternative crops to marijuana cultivation. She said that more than 68 thousand acres of marijuana have been destroyed so far. She sought the cooperation of all the people in the yagna to eradicate marijuana.
Anitha said that Araku and Paderu areas were previously marijuana hubs, but now they have been transformed to resemble coffee, which means Araku. She said that Araku has been made into a coffee brand. She explained that the state government and the Eagle team worked together and brought about changeShe said that Araku Coffee was able to be promoted even in high places like Parliament.
