Illegal ganja cultivation worth Rs 45 lakh destroyed in Kandhamal under ‘Operation Neela Jahar’

Illegal cannabis plantations worth over Rs 45 lakh were destroyed during a major joint operation carried out in Kandhamal district under “Operation Neela Jahar,” officials said on Wednesday.

A coordinated team comprising Kandhamal district police, excise officials, forest department personnel and revenue authorities conducted raids in forest areas under the Tikabali police limits. During the operation, cannabis plants cultivated over nearly 46 acres of land were identified, cut and destroyed by burning.

According to police sources, the estimated market value of the destroyed ganja crop exceeds Rs 45 lakh. The illegal plantations were detected in forest patches near Padma, Landapaju and Sunapanga villages under the Beheragaon panchayat.

Officials said the operation is part of a sustained crackdown on illegal ganja cultivation in Kandhamal, which has long been identified as a sensitive area for narcotics production. Despite repeated enforcement actions, drug mafias continue to adopt illegal means to earn quick profits by cultivating cannabis in remote and forested locations.

To complement enforcement measures, the forest department and police have also intensified awareness campaigns in the region. Posters are being displayed in villages to warn residents that ganja cultivation is illegal and punishable under the law, and that strict action will be taken against those found involved in such activities.

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Authorities said Operation Neela Jahar will continue in the coming days, with further raids planned to identify and destroy illegal cannabis plantations as part of ongoing efforts to curb drug cultivation in Kandhamal district.