No plans to stop import of gutka in Bhopal: Collector

BHOPAL: The district administration so far has no concrete plans to prevent import of gutka in Bhopal. Despite ban of gutka in the state from April 2012, open trade of gutka is being observed in many parts here.
"So far, we do not have a concrete plan to prevent the import and use of gutka," collector Nikunj Shrivastava said.
Requesting anonymity, officials of district administration said, "Gutka is being transported to Bhopal mainly through railways from Delhi, Lucknow and Kanpur.Transportation through railways is much easier therefore this mode of transport is used the most to import gutka in Bhopal."
However, DRM of Bhopal, Ghanshyam Singh, said, "As per rules, this is not the liability of the railway."
MP banned gutka under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on sales) Regulation 2011, notified by the FSSAI.
As per rules, if anyone is caught trading gutka, he has to pay fine ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 5 lakh. Moreover, if the gutka seized is unsafe or injurious to health or below standard, the accused can be punished with six months imprisonment and will have to pay a fine of Rs 10 lakh, officials informed.