Canabis plant worth Rs 301.80 crore destroyed

Bhubaneswar, Feb 19 (UNI) The excise department officials have destroyed canabis plants, locally called ''ganja'', worth Rs 301.80 crore, during raids conducted in the current fiscal, excise Minister Debi Prasad Misra told the state Assembly today.

Replying to a question put forward jointly by Ananta Das and Taraprasad Bahinipati(both Congress), the minister said 30,18,001 plants were destroyed till the end of January 31.

Mr Misra said the government had approved to open 55 new shops off-liquor shops and 43 shops on-liquor shops in the state this year.

He said a policy decision was taken to open 20 per cent more liquor shops during 2007-08, but the target could not be achieved due to the public opposition.

Mr Misra said that during the current financial year, a sum of Rs 348.12 crore excise tax was collected till January end.

UNI BD LL SP MIR KP1624