Smoking at public place: File complaint at No. 100 now

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 10

Residents of the city can now register a complaint against those smoking in public places by ringing up at the number 100. In a meeting of the Chandigarh Tobacco Control Cell, chaired by the UT Health Secretary, Anurag Agarwal, it was decided that a case should be registered at the police control room about persons smoking in public places and those tobacco shops and sellers operating within 100 meter radius of schools and educational institutions.

The officials also decided to impose a ban on sale of loose cigarettes and loose tobacco products as the individual units did not carry any health hazard warning.

The Health Secretary also authorised food inspectors to crackdown on hotels and restaurants having a smoking area to check whether they adhere to prescribed norms or not.

A number of other vital decisions were taken at the meeting which was attended by Municipal Commissioner, VP Singh, DSP Jagbir Singh, Nodal Officer from Police Department and Hemant Goswami, Chairperson, Burning Brain Society.

The Home Secretary also requested the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, to check the possibility of Licenses for tobacco shops and vendors under the Municipal Corporation Act.

The Deputy Commissioner was requested to take necessary steps to stop the violations in and around Ahatas. It was also proposed that special public prosecutors be appointed for specific cases filed in the court regarding violations of Cigarette and other Tobacco Product Act (COTPA).

The State Transport Authority should ensure that all public vehicles carry “No smoking” signage, Agarwal said.

Earlier, using a geographical information system (GIS), a three-member group of students headed by a faculty member from the civil engineering department of PEC University of Technology had mapped 62 locations in the city where tobacco products were being illegally sold within 100 metres of educational institutions.

Most of the violators have set up mobile shops. As per the COPTA, the sale of tobacco products within 100 metres is prohibited.

The highest rate breaking the law seems to be near educational institutes as the students are vulnerable targets.

BOX

The Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, says there should be no sale of cigarettes or tobacco products within a radius of 100 m of educational institutes. No sale of tobacco products to minors is allowed. A fine upto Rs 200 can be imposed for smoking in public place, selling tobacco products to minors, or selling tobacco products within a radius of 100 metres from any educational, medicinal or religious institute.