``The cabinet had on Tuesday recommended to the Centre to amend the Food and Drug Adulteration Act for the purpose. However, now we are examining if we can amend the act to give effect to the cabinet decision,'' Health and Medical Education Minister Daulatrao Aher told The Indian Express.

Aher said under section 23 of the Food and Drug Adulteration Act, the centre is empowered to impose ban on specific items in public interest, while under section 24, the state government has certain powers to take decisions.``We will hold discussion with Advocate General Chandrakant Sawant and officials of the law and judiciary department on the proposed ordinance. I think, it should notbe legally difficult for the alliance government to impose the ban,'' Aher added.

Aher, who had launched a state-wide campaign against consumption of gutkha, said Goa and Gujarat had already initiated steps for ban on gutkha. ``We will also seek information from these states to ensure that our amendment is legally perfect,'' Aher said.

Aher recalled that both the Houses of the state legislature had unanimously recommended to the centre to ban consumption and manufacture of gutkha since it was adversely affecting the health, particularly of the younger generation. ``We will have to honour the sentiments expressed by the members of the both the Houses and therefore we will have to take concrete steps without considering the loss of revenue or employment,'' Aher added.