Punjab government bans Gutkha, Pan masala

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government today banned the sale, storage, manufacture and distribution of Gutkha and Pan masala or other items with tobacco and nicotine content in the state.

Disclosing this here, an official spokesperson said that the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had cleared the file approving the proposal of the state Health and Family Welfare department for banning the Gutkha and Pan masala in the larger interest of public health.

The decision was taken as the chewing of Gutkha, Pan Masala and other tobacco products was a potent health hazard and responsible for deadly disease of cancer especially of mouth and throat, the spokesperson said.

The Punjab Government had already banned the sale and consumption of Gutkha and Pan masala in four districts of Ropar, Mohali, Amritsar and Mansa, he added.