The Excise Department’s proposal to set up a State-level de-addiction centre with modern treatment facilities in Kozhikode has hit a roadblock with the delay in getting the required extent of land in a convenient spot. All the three previously proposed spots, including those suggested by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), were found unsuitable by the department.
At least one acre of land with proper access and other basic amenities will be required to start the project with Central aid. The search has been on for more than a year, and no district-level authorities were found keen to address the basic requirement.
Other districts
“What we want is a convenient location with good access. The department is still trying to get such a spot in Kozhikode district. If it is not possible here, we will consider other possible locations in other districts,” said Excise Commissioner Rishiraj Singh during a press conference in connection with the Vimukthi half marathon event here on Saturday. He said the land initially identified by the KSIDC for the project was in a remote area with poor access and it was dropped.
Excise Department officials said the ₹100-crore project, if realised, would offer advanced facilities for the admission and treatment of drug addicts with the support of specialised doctors and it would be the first of its kind in south India.
The department came up with the proposal after noticing an increase in the number of young drug addicts in Kerala and the absence of quality treatment facilities for their rehabilitation.
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