Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij on Wednesday said that ban has been imposed on the sale of correction fluid and thinner in bottles in the State and deputy commissioners and other senior officials have been empowered to enforce the ban. Strict actions would be taken against those found violating the orders, said the Minister.

Although a notification was issued to ban the sale of correction fluid and thinner in bottles on the orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2012, no officer was empowered to enforce the ban in the state.

Due to this, the sale of this banned product is rampant in Haryana, said the Health Minister.

Now, responsibility to enforce this ban has been entrusted to concerned senior officers in the districts, which included Deputy Commissioner, Executive Magistrate, Medical Officer, Senior Drugs Control Officer, Drugs Control Officer and police officers of the rank of Assistant Sub Inspector or above. And, they have been asked to send their monthly progress report  on every fifth of the month  through their concerned Additional Deputy Commissioner to Commissioner of Food and Drug  Administration, said Vij.

He said that it was in April 21 that the issue was discussed in a meeting and decision was taken to empower the officers to take action against those found defying orders.

The Minister also made it clear that strict action according to the rules would be taken against those involved in the business of this banned product.

The correction fluid and thinner are used as nail polish removers by women, which has toxic chemicals. This is generally used in offices, but reportedly being widely misused by children as intoxicating substance or drug, which gave them stimulating effect like drugs on its inhalation. In order to protect them, law was amended, said Vij.

He said that in future, sale of correction fluid and thinner would be permitted in the form of pens or similar devices which allow limited amount of chemicals to come out. Mandatory warning should also be printed on them, he added.