- Opium and Alkaloid Works
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The Opium and Alkaloid Works (OAW) is an Indian government-owned company located in the city of Ghazipur and the town Neemuch.[1]
Contents
Products
The enterprise's two factories specialize in the production of opium and the extraction of related alkaloids (such as Codeine phosphates, Morphine salts, Dionine, Morphine Hydrochloride, Thebaine,[2] and more). It is the country's largest producer of opium-related products.[1]
Factories
Ghazipur factory
The Ghazipur factory has existed as the Benaras Opium Agency,[3] an entity of the East India Company, since 1820. In 1945, it began extracting alkaloids in addition to processing opium.[1] The Ghazipur opium factory is mentioned in the novel "Sea of Poppies" by Amitav Ghosh.
Neemuch factory
The Neemuch factory was founded in 1933. In 1976, it began extracting alkaloids in addition to processing opium.[1]
Organization
After 1976, the Chief Controller of Factories, currently Shri Ajesh Kumar,[3] replaced the Narcotics Commissioner (Who is Central Excise Commissioner on Deputation) of India as head of the OAW.[1]
Workforce
The enterprise employs 1,432 people.[1]
Security
Security is deputed by members of the Central Industrial Security Force, with 123 assigned to the Ghazipur factory and 104 to Neemuch.[1]
See also
- Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Protocol Amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (includes "Article 21" — Limitation of Production of Opium)
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g Particulars of the organisation, its functions and dutiesPDF (14.1 KB) (Government of India)
- ^ V.S. Ramanathan, P. Chandra. Recovery of thebaine and cryptopine from Indian opium (UNODC)
- ^ a b Government Opium and alkaloid factories at a glance (Central Bureau of Narcotics)
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