Odisha Strengthens War on Drugs at 5th NCORD Meeting in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards curbing the menace of narcotic trafficking and drug abuse, the 5th state-level meeting of the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) was held on Monday at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar. Chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, the high-level review meeting brought together top officials from state and central enforcement agencies to evaluate Odisha’s anti-narcotics strategy and plan future actions.

Organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, the meeting saw participation from senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Satyabrata Sahu, Director General of Police Y.B. Khurania, Deputy Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Hitesh Godara, and Excise Commissioner-cum-Secretary Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar. District collectors and SPs joined the proceedings virtually.

The review assessed the progress made since the last NCORD meeting held in April 2024. Discussions centered on major enforcement actions, destruction of illegal crops, seizure of narcotics, and inter-agency coordination. Notably, Odisha achieved a record destruction of 27,721 acres of illegal cannabis cultivation in 2024–25, nearly tripling the figure from the previous year’s 10,320 acres. These operations were carried out using satellite surveillance and intelligence-based planning.

In terms of seizures, officials reported the confiscation of 1,37,761 kg of cannabis and 37 kg of heroin from across the state, underscoring intensified ground-level enforcement efforts.

To complement enforcement, the state is pushing forward with preventive and educational initiatives. Over 62,000 individuals have taken anti-drug pledges on the e-Govardhan portal, with colleges being directed by the Higher Education Department to conduct pledge drives among students. Officials from departments of Health, School and Mass Education, and Higher Education were also present to align social outreach efforts.

DGP Khurania lauded the synergy between the state police and the Excise Department, announcing enhanced coordination and enforcement plans for the 2025–26 period. A key announcement came from Chief Secretary Ahuja, who confirmed that NDPS courts will soon be set up in Odisha to ensure faster trials in narcotics-related cases.

He also emphasized alternative livelihoods and crop promotion in forested areas vulnerable to illegal cannabis farming. District officials were instructed to conduct regular reviews and ensure full implementation of anti-narcotic measures.

The meeting also highlighted the utility of national mechanisms such as the Manas Portal and the 1933 National Narcotics Helpline, which are actively supporting awareness and reporting across the country.