Odisha bans ganja at Shiva shrines

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government banned the smoking of ganja inside Shiva shrines across the state.

In a letter, the Department of Odia Language  Literature and Culture asked District Collectors and SPs to take necessary steps to ban the consumption of ganja in various Shiva temple premises.

As per reports the priests of Ananta Balia Trust had requested the Excise Department to ban the use of ganja inside shrines.

“The use of any kind of psychotropic substances should be banned in all places of worship. We have issued the instructions to the collectors and SPs to execute the decision,” said State Excise and Culture Minister Aswini Patra.

If anyone is found violating the rule, legal action will be taken against him/her, he said.