The Food Safety Department has decided to burn about 5 tonnes of banned gutkha and panmasala products.
They were seized from different wholesalers and retailers in the recent months. Besides seizing these products from outlets being run by a few North India-based traders on the Big Bazaar Street, Jaffer Sha Street and Nadu Gujjili Street, the Food Safety Department officials also seized the banned products from their godowns and residences.
The cost of gutka and panmasala products, which are to be burnt shortly on the outskirts of Tiruchi, is estimated to be around ₹10 lakh.
The seized products have been kept in a locked room of an office for about six months, pending decision on whether to bury or burn them. Since it was argued that anti-social elements or traders could retrieve the banned products from the buried spot, the officials have now decided to burn them.
R. Chithra, Designated Officer, Food Safety Department, Tiruchi, told The Hindu that the issue had been taken to the notice of the Collector, seeking his permission to burn them. Based on it, the banned products would be burnt and a remote area at Panjapur would be chosen for burning the tobacco products.
She said that manufacture, storage and sale of chewable forms of tobacco, including gutkha and panmasala products, were banned by the State government in 2013. Tough action would be taken against those selling or possessing them. Surprise raids would be taken in different parts of the district and Food Safety Inspectors have been asked to closely watch the activities of wholesale and retail traders of panmasala, Dr. Chithra added.