New Delhi, March 30:
Tapir Gao, Member of Parliament from Arunachal East, raised the issue of legalising opium cultivation in parts of Arunachal Pradesh during a session of the Lok Sabha, specifically highlighting districts which border Myanmar in the eastern Arunachal that fall within his constituency.
Highlighting the historical context, Gao stated that opium cultivation has existed in the region since the British era and has become embedded in the traditional practices of certain tribal communities in eastern Arunachal Pradesh. He noted that despite its long-standing presence, the Narcotics Control Bureau continues to conduct annual drives to destroy illicit poppy cultivation in these areas.
Raising concerns over the recurring destruction of crops and its impact on local communities, Gao questioned whether the Centre could explore the possibility of legalising opium cultivation under a regulated framework for commercial purposes. He suggested that such an approach could help balance law enforcement with the socio-economic realities of the region.
Responding to the query, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that opium cultivation requires strict regulation, particularly in sensitive border regions and Naxal-affected areas. She clarified that opium cultivation in India is currently permitted only in notified tracts across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. She further informed the House that there is no proposal at present to regularise or legalise opium cultivation in any other region.
Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Narcotics oversees licensed opium cultivation under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The government issues an annual Opium Policy specifying notified areas and conditions for cultivation, under which licensed farmers are required to sell their entire produce to the government at fixed rates. At present, this regulated framework is limited to select tracts in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
