Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru G. Lakshmikant Reddy has directed the officials to act against de-addiction centres that were operating in the district without being registered under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act.

Chairing a meeting of the Narco Co-ordination Committee of the district on the Zilla Panchayat premises in Mysuru on Wednesday, Mr. Reddy said all de-addiction centres operating in the district must compulsorily be registered under the KPME Act failing which legal action will be initiated.

He instructed the officials to immediately begin the process of identifying the centres operating without registration and issue them notices for violating the rules.

Doctor’s prescription mandatory

The Deputy Commissioner also called for stringent action against medical shops selling medicines without a doctor’s prescription. 

To curb the illegal sale of drugs that could contribute to substance abuse, he directed the Health Department and the Drugs Control Department to conduct joint enforcement operations.

Speaking at the meeting, Superintendent of Police Mallikarjuna Baladandi said that the forested areas of H.D. Kote taluk are vulnerable to illegal cultivation of ganja owing to their proximity to forest regions. He said intensified operations are being carried out in the area. 

Mr. Baladandi said that the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking would be observed on June 26.

Additional Superintendent of Police Mallik said awareness programmes had been organised in taluk prisons across the district to make them drug-free. 

Awareness campaigns were also being conducted in schools and colleges on the harmful effects of substance abuse, he said.

Mysuru District Health and Family Welfare Officer P.C. Kumaraswamy and officials from various departments were present at the meeting.