Due to a ban on plastic sachets almost all gutka factories in the state Karnataka stopped manufacturing from Tuesday, according to a report by the Times of India.

Quoting the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), almost all gutka factories are reported to have ceased production until they would find a cheap and acceptable packing alternative.
The new Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011 set a minimum thickness of 40 microns for plastic bags, compared to 20 microns earlier.
Manufacturers of gutka have argued that The Supreme Court declined to stay an order banning sale of tobacco products like gutka and paan masala in plastic sachets beyond 1 March.
Preceding the ban on 1 March, many gutka manufacturers had already stopped buying arecanuts, a main ingredient, or were buying them at a very low price. The Chitradurga Arecanut Growers’ Association had therefore asked the government to announce a minimum support price for arecanuts. (pi)