Residents welcome govt decision to impose ban on sale of tobacco

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 22

Residents have welcomed the decision of the state government to impose a ban on the manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of “gutkha” or “pan masala”, processed/flavored/scented chewing tobacco and any other food products containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients whether packaged or unpackaged or sold as one or separate products for a period of one year throughout the state.

They also say imposing a ban is not enough, implementation is also important.

NK Gosian, principal, Malwa College, said, “It is great that the government has banned the sale of tobacco. The implementation of the ban is a major task for the district administration. It will be interesting to see how it will implement the ban. Earlier, we have seen that smoking at public places was banned, use of polythene was also prohibited, but all these bans remain on papers as these are going on rampant in the city.”

Rakesh Narula, president, Bathinda Vikas Manch, said, “The government should impose a ban on all type of drugs, which has a bad impact on society. It is a great step but enforcing a ban at the grassroots level will be a Herculean task for the administration.”

Dr Vitull K Gupta, health activist, said, “It is a welcome step but the government should not pick and choose. The number of liquor vends should also be reduced otherwise such bans will be of no use.”

Neha Gupta, a city resident, said, “It is a great step as splitting after chewing tobacco at public places was a common sight. I hope that the ban will be implemented strictly by the district administration.”