Delhi Government yesterdaydecided to enforce a blanket ban on manufacturing, sale, storage and display ofall Gutka products in the city. The ban will also be imposed on pan masalas andsimilar products containing nicotine and tobacco.

Delhi Health Minister A KWalia said government is likely to issue a notification to the effect tomorrowto enforce the ban.

Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna cleared thefile pertaining to imposition of ban on gutka products last week.

"We havedecided to enforce a complete ban on sale, manufacturing, storage, display andtransportation of all Gutka products in the city," said a top official. Hesaid government has taken the decision as Gutka products are a health hazardand cause oral and lung cancer. "The formal decision to enforce the banwas taken at a high level meeting presided over by Chief Minister SheilaDikshit," said the official.

He said, Prevention of FoodAdulteration department will implement ban and strict action will be takenagainst the offenders as per provision of Food Safety and Standards Act. Thestringent Act, which was enforced in Delhi in August last year, provides formaximum punishment of life imprisonment and a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh forthose involved in such illegal activities.

A number of states includingMaharashtra, Rajasthan Kerala, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar have alreadyannounced ban on Gutka products. A similar comprehensive ban came into effectin Gujarat yesterday.

Finance Department analysts saidgovernment might incur an annual revenue loss of around Rs 40 crore due to theban.