Crackdown on Gutka

Registration of shops may be cancelled, if caught selling Gutka
On the directions of Commissioner Health & Medical Education Shaleen Kabra, a special squad of Drug & Food Control headed by Shabir Ahmed Lone, Food Safety Officer along with SHO Maisuma, Asif Iqbal, volunteers of J&K Voluntary Health Association (JKVHA) raided various shops in Maisuma, Maharaji Bazaar, Koker Bazaar and Lal Chowk and seized huge quantity of banned Gutka products worth Rs. 15,000. State Govt. has already banned Gutka, Pan Masala, Khaini etc. which contain tobacco, being unsafe food product for consumption, as it causes cancer. The squad imposed fine on the shopkeepers. The seized products were destroyed in front of media, at Press Colony Srinagar. The balance seized Gutka was destroyed scientifically in an incinerator through Regional Director, J&K Pollution Control Board, Ali Mohammed Dar. Drug Controller, Satish Gupta and Asst. Food Controller Abdul Hamid have warned shopkeepers that their registration can be cancelled if they are caught selling Gutka. Executive Director JKVHA, A.M.Mir (IAS Retd) has appreciated the steps taken by Government and appealed the shopkeepers not to sell Gutka, Khaini or Pan Masala containing tobacco, as it causes cancer. Mir also requested Commissioner SMC, Dr. GN Qasba to issue appropriate instructions to Food Safety Officers of SMC to prohibit sale of Gutka and smoking in public places, during the Food Safety Week being observed by the Corporation from 1st to 7th July. SP East Tahir Sajad and SDPO Kothibagh Navid appreciated SHO Maisuma and instructed other SHOs to conduct similar regular checks within their jurisdiction to prevent sale of Gutka and smoking in public places.