Ganja Plantation along Cuttack Link Road

CUTTACK: Right under the nose of the Excise and Police officials, an almost full-fledged cultivation of hemp seems to be underway at the prime andmost busy thoroughfare Link Road in the City.The site for the Orissa State Cooperative Bank building, a stone’s throw from the Arunodaya Market, has been converted into fertile land for cultivationof the contraband. Over 30 plants rising to about two to three feet werefound on the premises. The plants were carefully concealed within rows of wild herbs and shrubs to escape attention. The trees appeared to beneatly planted and taken good care by the planters. The soil under them wascleared of all grass. These also appeared to be wateredregularly to spur growth.The plantation in the prime locality and along the thoroughfare, which is dottedwith shops and business establishments thronged by thousands of people everyday, has raised eyebrows. This despite the stretch from Badambadi to Madhupatna and back being subjected to heavy patrolling and monitoring.