The Hindu : "Banned paan masala freely available"

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 18, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Pondicherry

"Banned paan masala freely available"

By Our Staff Reporter

Pondicherry Feb. 17. The former Chief Minister, V. Vaithilingam, has charged the Health Department with `slackness and inertia' in taking action against those selling banned commodities. Addressing reporters here today, Mr. Vaithilingam said paan masala, a banned substance, was freely available in the market. The Health Minister, E. Valsaraj, had in the last budget session announced the ban on paan parag and paan masala. But now the products were available in the open market.

Mr. Vaithilingam, Congress MLA, who had been training his guns on the Government on several issues, said the Health department should send flying squads and raid shops and establishments selling the banned substances.

He said he was not criticising the Chief Minister or the Government.

"I have a responsibility to bring to the notice of the Health Minister the violation of the ban. The health of the people should count more than anything else".

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