Chhattisgarh to ban ghutka from new year

Raipur, Oct 2 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh Government has decided to impose a total ban on all forms of Betel quid with tobacco, also known as ghutka from January one, Chief Minister Raman Singh said today.

''It has come to our notice that children, even those in the villages, are becoming addict to ghutka,'' he said on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

Dr Singh said the Maharashtra government had already banned sale of ghutka and the Supreme Court had also upheld the ban.

Pointing out that polythene was posing a threat to environment, the Chief Minister said his government has also decided to ban sale of polythene below 20 microns from January next year.

He said a law was already in force against sale of polythene below 20 microns.

UNI