Civic body wants to ban gutkha in Mumbai

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to ban gutkha in the city.  

A notice of motion regarding a ban was moved by Congress corporator Vinod Shekhar in the civic general meeting on Tuesday.  

“Many people are addicted to gutkha and it is the cause of diseases like cancer and tuberculosis.  Gutkha addicts also suffer from mental disorder,” said Shekhar.   

He also stated that littered empty gutkha packets make the city dirty. “It is necessary to ban gutkha to keep the city clean as well,” he said.   

Ashish Shelar, BJP group leader at the corporation, supported the move. “The habit of chewing gutkha is destroying the young generation. It should be banned although BMC would lose revenue in the process. We should be more cautious about public health,” he said. 

Standing committee chairman Rahul Shevale said, “It is a good move. We will ask the state health ministry to provide more legal teeth to the BMC to implement the ban on gutkha.” 

Approving of Shekhar’s move, mayor Shraddha Jadhav said: “The proposal will be sent to the government for further action. There is already a ban on chewing gutkha in all civic offices. A ban across the city will be a welcome move.”