Up Govt Gets Cracking On Gutkha, Pan Masala Ban

The alacrity with which the Uttar Pradesh government cracked down on pan masala and gutkha manufacturing units and shops throughout the state has surprised many.

The state government received the Allahabad High Court's order at noon on July 19, the notification was issued at 1 pm and the administration was out to implement it within half-an-hour, closing factories and warning shopkeepers against selling pan masala and gutkha.

Also, neither the court nor the state government gave any time to the manufacturers and shopkeepers.

In Maharashtra, the ban order is to be implemented from August 1, allowing enough time to pan masala and gutkha producers to settle their accounts with retailers and dealers.

But no time was allowed in Uttar Pradesh. From manufacturers to stockists to retailers, everybody related with the trade, are at a loss. The sudden action has broken the chain.

"Whosoever has to pay to the other party is now refusing to pay, on the plea that his goods have been seized or destroyed," said a guthka trader.

Pan masala and gutkha manufacturers met here yesterday, but failed to devise any strategy to counter the ban order.

According to traders, the ban will hit many sectors, including perfumery, the katha and aricanut industry and also the packaging industry.

In its order, the Allahabad High Court said: "Until further orders from today all manufacturing and sale of pan masala and gutkha etc (whatever they may be called, or under whatever lable they may be sold) shall be stopped immediately and the administration and police will see to it that manufacture of pan masala and gutkha are no longer permitted."