Punjab seeks army help for de-addiction centres

Chandigarh, Aug 15 (IANS) The Punjab government has sought the cooperation of the Indian Army for setting up drug de-addiction centres in three districts along the Pakistan border.

The Punjab government wants the army to set up the centres in Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur districts in the state.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal offered full support for this project to the Western Command chief, Lt. Gen. K.J. Singh, here Thursday.

Badal said the Punjab government and the army can work together to effectively implement the project.

Badal asked officials to work out modalities for the establishment of drug de-addiction centres and offered to allot free land to the army for these centres.

Army officers will man these centres.

Welcoming the initiative to set up the centres, Lt. Gen. Singh said the army would do everything to run the centres effectively.