MANSEHRA, April 15: A Jirga of Kala Dhaka tribal area of district Mansehra has decided that anyone found involved in cultivation of poppy or illegal business of raw opium in the area will be fined Rs0.5 million, besides demolition of his house.

This was stated by Abdul Ghafoor Baig, the human resource officer (HRO), while talking to newspapermen here on Tuesday.

He said that the tribal elders have further decided to voluntarily destroy the poppy crop cultivated on 440 acres by April 22. He said as compared to the past, the poppy has been cultivated on a vast area this year in Kala Dhaka.

He said that the DCO Mansehra, tribal elders, MNA Maulana Abdul Malik and ex-MPA Zareen Gul Khan have constituted committees and convinced the people to destroy poppy crop voluntarily.

The committees, after destroying the poppy crop, would submit their report to the elders, he added. He said in lieu of spoiling of poppy crop, the government will carry out development schemes in the area which includes construction of roads and bridges, provision of electricity, health care facilities and education.

He said that the tribal status of Kala Dhaka will be kept intact. He said the people of the area are peaceful and there was hardly any crime in the area. He said the government would take drastic steps for curbing the menace of unemployment in the area.