SHILLONG, APR 23: The Meghalaya will ban the sale, manufacture and distribution of gutka (tobacco-laced areca nut pieces) and pan masala (a chewing mixture) soon. A senior health department official said that in line with the union government, the Meghalaya government is already taking necessary steps to ban of sale, manufacture and distribution of gutka, khaini, pan masala and other chewing products containing tobacco or nicotine.
The official said, “We have received communication from the Supreme Court of India which sought to know the reasons why we have not imposed the ban so far and the time needed to do so.” Following the query from the apex court, the state government has filed an affidavit before the court seeking more time to make the ban operational in Meghalaya.
Assam, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Sikkim have already banned such products except Tripura and Meghalaya.
The Supreme Court directed 23 states and five Union Territories to file status report on the implementation of the notification issued by it banning these products and also asked the remaining states and Union Territories to explain the reasons why they have not imposed ban so far and the time they need to do so.-By Our Reporter
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