Port Blair, June 02: The District Magistrate, South Andaman has prohibited the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale on all forms of processed/flavoured/scented chewing tobacco, whether going by the name of Gukta, Pan Masala, Zarda packed and unpacked/loose etc., which contain tobacco and or nicotine as ingredient in the entire District of South Andaman for a period of one month with immediate effect in the interest of public health.
In an official order the DM mentioned that the District Administration is closely monitoring the situation and noticed that there is a steep increase in positive cases in the past few days in some areas and one of the major cause of the spread of virus is caused due to spitting in public places.
“It has been noticed at large that the people living in the islands are in the habit of chewing tobacco and spitting at public places which thereby cause the spread of the virus,” the order said adding “the Superintendent of Police/Sub-Divisional Magistrate/Executive Magistrates and all authorities concerned shall ensure strict compliance of this order and shall adequately inform and sensitize the field functionaries to note that these restrictions fundamentally relate to movement of people, but not to that of essential services.”
Any disobedience of the above orders shall invite penal action u/s 188 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the relevant provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 against the violator(s) and also fines shall also be imposed as per Order issued by this office from time to time.
“This order shall come into with effect from 02nd June 2021 to 02nd July 2021 for a period of one month,” the order further added.