‘Rehabilitation facilities have been expanded across district hospitals’: Anshul Garg

THE ANTI-DRUG campaign in Jammu and Kashmir goes well beyond conventional law enforcement. It combines stringent action against traffickers and assets linked to drug money with a range of preventive and rehabilitative measures. These include organising sports leagues that engage thousands of youth to mobilising religious leaders to spread awareness.

In an interview with THE WEEK, Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg outlines the three pillars of the campaign and explains how the administration is tackling challenges. Excerpts:

Q/ Tell us about the different contours of the Nasha Mukt Abhiyan being carried out by the state government and the LG’s office?

Awareness campaigns are being carried out across all 10 districts of Kashmir, led by deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police. Around 7,000 religious leaders are now part of the campaign and have been asked to speak about the issue during Friday prayers.

The second dimension is enforcement. The PIT-NDPS law (Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act) allows preventive detention. Authorities have undertaken seizure and demolition of properties linked to drug proceeds, especially on state or encroached land. The campaign has expanded punitive measures to include recommendations for cancellation of driving licences, vehicle registration certificates, passports and Aadhaar-related actions.

The third dimension is rehabilitation. Earlier, rehabilitation facilities were concentrated in Srinagar. Now, facilities have been expanded across district hospitals, with 299 beds across the valley. Every district hospital has five to 20 beds, supported by psychiatrists and counsellors.

Q/ The campaign is being described as a 100-day drive. What happens after that? There is often concern that once the pressure eases, drug abuse and trafficking return to normal levels. What long-term mechanisms are being put in place?

The campaign is based on a formal SOP notified by the Home Department. It is not an ad hoc exercise. The SOP lays down procedures for enforcement measures, including actions related to passports, driving licences, RCs and other punitive steps.

This framework is meant to continue beyond the 100-day campaign. The enforcement mechanism is being institutionalised.

On awareness, the objective was to ensure that every household knows that help is available. Once that message reaches everyone and helpline numbers become widely known, the system becomes self-sustaining.

An SOP for rehabilitation is also being finalised. While beds and psychiatrists are already in place, the government is now looking at the rehabilitation ecosystem in a more comprehensive way. Several private rehabilitation centres were found violating guidelines and have been shut down during the campaign.

The government is now trying to create a more regulated rehabilitation ecosystem involving both the public and private sectors.

The 100 days are essentially a focused thrust, but the SOPs are intended to become permanent guiding mechanisms.

Q/ Sports appears to be an integral part of the campaign.

Sports has been a focus area for the lieutenant governor for the last few years. Playfields had already been developed in every panchayat across Kashmir. There are 2,182 panchayats; all of them now have redeveloped or reactivated playfields.

Several new leagues have been launched specifically under this campaign. The LG has been visiting districts to inaugurate tournaments. Over the past 45 days, foundation stones have been laid or inaugurations held for 74 new playfields.

More than 15,000 sporting events have been organised with participation from around seven lakh youth.

Q/ There is humanitarian concerns over stringent action such as demolition of properties.

More than 28 properties have been demolished so far. Inputs come from intelligence agencies, police and the district administration before action is taken. In most cases, the demolished properties were commercial structures built through proceeds from drug trafficking.

The LG has repeatedly said that anyone who feels wrongly targeted can approach the administration. So far, there has been no such complaint.

Q/ Last year’s terror attack in Pahalgam affected tourism badly. This year, tourists appear to be returning. How much recovery are you seeing?

Tourism has seen a sharp recovery since January. The snow season was very good this year, helped by improved connectivity through the new tunnel linking Sonamarg.

Both Gulmarg and Sonamarg saw strong tourist footfall during winter, and the Tulip season also witnessed good numbers.

Current tourism figures are around 70 to 75 per cent of pre-Pahalgam levels. The administration believes the graph is steadily rising, aided by better connectivity and the upcoming summer season.

The number of hotels, cafes and tourism-related infrastructure projects across Kashmir is also increasing, which indicates confidence in the sector.

Q: The Vande Bharat train to Srinagar has generated a lot of positive attention. What impact is it having on tourism and the local economy?

Rail connectivity between Jammu and Srinagar began last year, but passenger numbers were initially modest. Since the launch of the Vande Bharat service from Jammu to Srinagar, daily passenger traffic has risen to around 2,500 to 2,800 passengers, with occupancy levels often reaching 80 to 100 per cent.

During heavy snowfall earlier this year, when highways and flights were disrupted, the railway became a lifeline for Kashmir.

Freight movement through Railways has not yet reached its full potential, especially for horticulture products like apples, cherries and strawberries. There are still logistical gaps related to transportation from farms to railway stations and unloading at destination markets.

The administration is holding meetings with railway authorities, growers and transporters to address these issues. Roll-on roll-off services are also being explored for trucks carrying goods.

Q/ The Amarnath Yatra is approaching. What preparations are underway and what kind of turnout do you expect this year?

This year’s Yatra will last 57 days, longer than last year’s 37-day period. Registrations are already higher than last year and the administration expects between 5.5 lakh and 6 lakh pilgrims.

Preparations are underway at all major base camps including Srinagar, Pahalgam and Baltal. Snow clearance work is progressing and is expected to finish by early June.

Infrastructure upgrades are also underway. Track widths are being expanded, underground cabling is being completed and additional Doppler radars are being installed for better weather forecasting.

Telecom connectivity, especially on the Pahalgam route, is also being improved after feedback from last year’s pilgrims.

Medical facilities are being expanded further. The administration says the number of deaths during last year’s Yatra was significantly reduced and efforts are being made to improve healthcare support even more this year.

Q/ Cultural and social activity is often seen as an indicator of normalcy. Are more literary, cultural and music festivals being planned in Kashmir?

The administration believes that once people feel a sense of normalcy, such events emerge organically.

Over the past year, Srinagar hosted events such as a TED Talk and a Sonu Nigam concert on the banks of Dal Lake. Literary festivals and seasonal cultural events are also growing.

The Tulip Festival and Chrysanthemum Festival attracted large numbers of tourists. Handicraft and handloom exhibitions are also being organised regularly to promote local artisans.

According to the administration, these activities are increasingly aligning with the tourism season and contributing to a broader cultural revival in Kashmir.