In Himachal Pradesh’s Parvati Valley, a picturesque tourist destination in the Kullu district, a multi-agency operation is underway against illicit cannabis cultivation.
Parvati Valley has become infamous for the production and trafficking of high-quality hashish(hash). The teams used current and historical satellite images to track and destroy the cultivation by burning it. An NCB spokesperson said that at least 592 acres of illicit cannabis cultivation have been destroyed in Kullu over the last two months. Over the last two months, different agencies have scaled slopes ranging from 2000 to 4000 metres to destroy cannabis cultivation in the valley. Officials said the drive is part of the Centre’s war on drugs, which aims to dismantle drug networks by December 31, 2029 – a target announced by Union home minister Amit Shah last month. HT has seen a government plan to achieve zero illicit cultivation in known areas (hotspots) by December 2027.
Because drugs sourced from elsewhere are sold or marketed as originating from the region in north India, an NCB officer said the crackdown aims not only to nip the problem in the bud by targeting cultivation at its source but also.
The court was also informed that “entry tickets to these parties ranged from Rs. “The crackdown will ensure that the region is not exploited for narcotics. On the streets, many a time, people also sell hashish or marijuana by branding it as sourced from Parvati Valley. India’s nodal anti-drug agency, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), finalised the vision document after consulting with different agencies and presenting it twice to Shah before approval, publication, and circulation among stakeholders.
On June 6, the Himachal Pradesh High Court also directed the police and the administration to investigate complaints about rave parties. 5000/- to Rs. 7,00,000/- and the videos of these parties are available on the website, and drugs are openly available at such events. Identifying hotspots and destroying cultivation are among the key measures mentioned in the government’s Vision Document 2026-2029. Home minister Amit Shah launched the Vision Document 2026-2029 on June 26, which contains measurable targets and a three-year national plan covering policing, prevention, and rehabilitation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to make India drug-free by 2047.
It is said that the temperature, water, air, and the altitude of the valley make it the best place across India for cannabis cultivation. This is why the hash that comes from the cannabis plant of Parvati Valley is in high demand,” one NCB officer, who asked not to be named, said. The government aims to have “zero illicit cultivation in known areas by December 2027 and in all areas by December 2029.”, according to the Vision Document.
The Himalayan Environment Protection Society, Kullu, had earlier complained to the court about ‘rave parties’ in Kasol, Jibhi, Manali and other parts of Kullu.
