Mumbai: The Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced a ban on gutka and paan masala’s production, distribution and sale in the state.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan gave the decision a nod a few days back.

Maharashtra is the third state after Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, to ban gutka.

Maharashtra remains one of the largest consumers of tobacco in any form in the country, a Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) factsheet for the state revealed recently.