Joining the league of tobacco-free states, the Odisha government on Tuesday imposed a ban on the manufacture, sale and consumption of guthka in the state.

“Rising up to its concern for healthy living of common people, the state government has decided to ban tobacco containing gutkha according to section 234 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation, 2011,” Health and Family Welfare minister Damodar Rout said. He said, the Supreme Court and different high courts had earlier directed the states to slap such a ban as the nicotine-contained chewing masalas cause diseases like cancer.