SHILLONG: Following the recently announced ban on manufacture, storage, transport, sale or distribution of guthka and pan masala containing tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in Meghalaya, the East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police has issued directives to all the police stations in the district to implement the order.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Sunday, East Khasi Hills district police chief M Kharkrang informed that all police stations in the district have been asked to implement the order in letter and spirit.
He, however, admitted that it would not be an easy task to enforce the order and the police department would require cooperation of all the line departments including the public to enforce the order.
Manufacture, storage and sale of guthka and pan masala has been prohibited under sub section (2) of section 30 of the Food Safety And Standards Act, 2006, for a period of one year in the interest of the public health.
East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said that he has received the notification from Deputy Commissioner of Foods Safety, State Food Safety and Standards Authority, Shillong, asking him to prohibit the sale of such items.
“We need to sit together and discuss how to enforce the order,” Goyal said while adding that the District Administration and police will have to come up with some mechanism to ensure that the ban on these items is fully implemented.
“However if violation comes to our notice, we will take action against them,” Goyal said.
