District administration has decided to intensify its drive against illegal sale of gutkha and tobacco. Despite a ban on sale, manufacture, display and stocking of gutkha, cases of shops selling the product are being reported regularly.
According to the joint order of Deputy Commissioner Suraj Kumar and Senior Superintendent of Police, Dr. M. Tamil Vanan, a meeting of the deputed officer, medical officer, police officer and police force was held to comply with the ban for use and sale of banned pan masala in urban and rural areas of the district.
Meanwhile, district administration has also lined up for harsher penalties after a few days of educating the masses against ills of consumption of tobacco products.
Makeshift shops selling tobacco products (cigarette, beedi, gutkha, paan, khaini, among others) are found near majority of kiosks at Sakchi, Bistupur, Kadma, Sonari, Golmuri, Agrico, Burmamines and Telco. Incidentally, as per Section 6 of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA), sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products within a 100-yard radius of educational institutions is also illegal.