Though the state government banned gutka and paan masala a few days ago, MiD DAY has found that it is not difficult to get the tobacco products in the city. The ban came into force on July 20, and since then officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pune division, have upped their efforts to prevent paan stall owners and wholesalers from storing, distributing or selling gutka and paan masala.u00a0In the past one week, products worth Rs 11 lakh were confiscated by FDA officials and samples sent for inspection.

Getting round the ban: u00a0A paan stall in Koregaon Park where the owner yesterday offered to sell a sachet of ‘Goa 1000’ gutka with an MRP of Rs 3 for Rs 4 if bought in bulk