BHUBANESWAR: ‘Gutkha’ and ‘pan masala’ manufacturers continue to blatantly flout the ban on plastic pouches, imposed by the Supreme Court, in the State even five months after the restrictions came into force.More than 70 per cent of the gutkha brands are still selling their products in plastic pouches and sachets.A study, conducted in Khurda district by the Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI)-Aparajita to ascertain if the gutkha and pan masala companies are still selling sachets, pouches and packets made of plastic, has revealed that the ban has no impact on the producers.Among the 16 brands that were collected during the survey, 13 were using plastic packaging. In all the samples, barring one, there was no manufacturing date. This was ostensibly done by the manufacturer to bypass the ban that came into force from March 1, 2011.The study also revealed that a majority of the vendors selling the products were aware of the ban on plastic pouches and packets but were selling them owing to lack of enforcement. More than 72 per cent acknowledged the ban and consequent punishment but a whopping 94 per cent said they had no problem of selling them as there was no enforcement.Moreover, there was rampant black marketing of the products under the cover of the ban.The trend is in sync with national findings as per a study conducted across more tobacco-chewing states like Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.The results have underscored the need for intensifying the enforcement measures. “In the absence of attention-drawing enforcement, the sale of banned products is going on unabated.There should be concerted efforts on the part of the Government to curb the menace through raids and condign punishment for the violators,” Itishree Kanungo of VHAI said.The issue assumes significance as the Supreme Court is set to take up the matter on Wednesday to assess the progress in implementation of the ban.
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