The Government of Mamta banerjee in west Bengal has banned smoking in public places and sale of tobacco products to minors in Darjeeling district failing of which would draw a fine of Rs 200.
According to the government’s statement that the ban was in force in the Hill areas as per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) in 2003.
DM Anurag Srivastava said that the administration has started its implementation from the Independence Day 2016.
He said that the ban on smoking in public places was in place but the implementation was not done properly. Now on the directive from the Health department, we started implementing the ban in the district from yesterday.
Explaining the ban on smoking, the DM said that sale of tobacco products would not be allowed within 100 meters of an educational institution while the sale of tobacco products to minors would be a punishable offence.
DM Srivastava said that the ban on smoking is Not only for the locals but also for the tourists. Anybody found smoking in public places will be fined Rs 200. Nobody will be allowed to sell tobacco-related products like cigarettes to minors below 18 years.
He added that the manufacturing of tobacco-related products should adhere to the norm related to warnings on packages.
According to the COTPA Act, failing of following to the norm related to warnings on packages, the manufacturer of tobacco products on first conviction can face up to 2 years of imprisonment or can be fined Rs 5,000.
DM Srivastava said that we need to tell them about the ill effects of consuming tobacco products and smoking cigarettes. We are also training our staff as well as police personnel to influence others in the society.
The COTPA is an Act which was enacted in 2003 to prohibit regulation and advertisement of tobacco business in India. It puts restriction on tobacco products including chewing tobacco, Snuff, Beedi, Cheroot, Pan-masala, Gutka and cigarettes.
