By IANS
Raipur : Chhattisgarh’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has imposed a total ban on manufacturing and sale of gutkha (chewing tobacco) and polythene that has less than 20 micron thickness, starting Tuesday, an official statement said.
“Any form of gutkha containing tobacco has been banned in the state from Jan 1, 2008 for a period of five years. The decision has been taken in public interest.
“Those who violate the decision will be imprisoned from six months to three years, besides economic penalty under provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954,” the statement said.
The government said it banned gutkha as school and college children too were increasingly being found chewing gutkha and risking their health. According to an official estimate, around Rs.100 million worth of gutkha is sold in the state every month.
The government has also banned the use of polythene bags with a thickness of less than 20 micron, saying it was causing great damage to the environment.
Besides banning polythene and gutkha, it also issued an order making hamlets mandatory for two-wheeler drivers from Tuesday onwards. Accidents involving bikers have been on the rise in the state.
The government has also asked the police department to intensify checking across the state and impose heavy fines on riders without helmets.