Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, Sept 26: The District Food Safety Officer today postponed the proposed Press Conference, which was earlier called to announce ban on tobacco products in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The notice for postponement came few hours before the much awaited, press conference, triggering rumors among public that even this time the Administration might step back on the issue of imposing ban on Tobacco products.
Earlier on September 2013 the authority issued a ban for all chewable tobacco products in any form including Zarda (retail wholesale and manufacturing) only to be withdrawn in 10 days and a fresh notification was issued on 2nd Nov 2013 that the sale of Gutka is prohibited for one year from 1st Nov 2013.
When Andaman Sheekha team reached Directorate of Health Services to meet, Dr. Shipra Paul who is also the Commissioner of Food Safety, as usual, she refused to meet media and give any comment. However, office staffs of DHS told Andaman Sheekha that the postponement is done just because the Lt. Governor is not in station and his approval in this regards has not been obtained yet. General Public can only hope to get the official version soon.
