Gutka pouches go off the shelves in Surat

SURAT: Gutka and pan masala were off the shelves in most shops and roadside stalls in the city as the comprehensive ban on their production and sale come into effect across the state from Tuesday.
Wary of raids by authorities, pan shop owners and roadside sellers ensured that they are not in possession of any pouches.
Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) said that the dealers and distributors of the gutka products were strictly asked to adhere to the September 11 comprehensive ban in the state.The dealers were asked to communicate the retailers, including pan shops and roadside stalls about the ban on gutka products.
On Tuesday, the SMC's health squad fanned out in all the seven municipal zones to ensure the ban is implemented on Tuesday. The health officers visited each and every pan shop and roadside stalls in the city and found the gutka pouches disappearing from their counters.
Dr Hemant Desai, deputy commissioner (health), said, "The ban has been successful in the city. As per the state government notification, any violation of the ban would attract at least six months of imprisonment and a fine up to Rs 5 lakh.
Interestingly, the sale of mava - a concoction of betel nut, lime and tobacco - has picked up in the diamond city. Most of the pan shop and roadside stalls had a huge sale of mava on the first day of the ban as the many gutka addicts in the diamond city switched to consuming mava.
Salim Shaikh, who runs a pan stall in Chowk Bazaar said, "Forget gutka, I have stopped selling pan masala pouches. Since morning, I have sold only mava to most of my gutka customers. The addicts will find one or the other way to continue consuming tobacco products, even if there is ban on gutka."
Hari Patel, another pan stall owner at Adajan, said, "The consumption of cigarette and mava has increased among the gutka addicts. I know only couple of my customers who have quit their gutka addiction with the ban coming in force from Tuesday."