AS the September 11 deadline banning gutkha and paan masala in the state nears, the sales tax department in the diamond city has started a massive survey operation on the wholesalers and dealers of gutkha and paan masala to curb the black-marketing from Thursday.

Official sources said the department officials have fanned out in the diamond city for conducting survey operation on the wholesalers and retailers in order to keep the record of the gutkha and paan masala stock ordered by them in the past one month.

As the deadline is nearing, the prices of various gutkha brands have witnessed a 100 per cent increase. The wholesalers of tobacco and gutkha products said the retailers including the agencies supplying to the paan shops and grocery stores in the city have doubled the prices.

Though the anti-tobacco crusaders and oncologist have welcomed the ban on the production, distribution, stocking and sale of gutkha and gutkha productions in the state, but have sounded a note of caution that the early announcement of the ban has led to large scale black marketing of these products.

Pouches of all major brands such as Pan Parag, Pan Bahar, Manikchand, Goa and Rajnigandha are being sold at almost double the printed price.

"The survey is targeted on the wholesalers and dealers of gutkha and paan masala in the city. We will keep the record pertaining the stock ordered by the wholesalers and dealers prior to the announcement of gutkha ban and after the announcement" said a senior Sales Tax officer.