Gutka to be banned permanently?
The state government is contemplating a permanent ban on gutka and other tobacco products in Maharashtra. Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday expressed his desire to ban gutka and paan masala — both flavored tobacco products — forever.
Addressing the function organised on the eve of Anti-Tobacco World Day at YB Center, Mr Pawar said, “Our government is making efforts to ban gutka and other tobacco products permanently in the state. The ban imposed last year was limited to only a year, but we wanted to ban such products permanently.”
The state government had placed a ban on the sale, manufacture and storage of gutka and paan masala on July 11 last year. The ban was imposed through a notification on July 19 under the Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA). The deputy chief minister said that even though the government was losing `100 crore as revenue every year due to the ban on gutka, “we want to save our generation.” He added, “There should be a people’s movement and awareness about the harm caused due to consumption of tobacco and its products.”
He also said that an NGO called Rajaram has decided to make the Sangli district tobacco-free. Appreciating the move, Mr Pawar said, “I extend my full support to the NGO, as I am eager to see the whole district free from tobacco.”
The ban on gutka and paan masala was challenged in the Bombay high court through a petition filed by Dhariwal Industries. However, the plea was rejected by the court citing public interest.
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