Chandigarh, April 4 (Inditop.com) The Union Territory (UT) of Chandigarh, which holds the distinction of becoming the country’s first smoke-free city in July 2007, is all set to license tobacco vendors in the city so that the provisions of the Control of Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) can be followed more effectively.
“This proposal has already been approved in the meeting of Chandigarh Tobacco Control Cell (CTCC) and very soon, we will start working in the direction of implementing it,” said UT Home-cum-health Secretary Ram Niwas here Sunday.
“We have also directed the authorities concerned to install hoardings displaying the smoke free status of Chandigarh at the entry points of the city, bus stands, the railway station and the airport to create awareness among tourists coming here,” he added.
In the last few months, 744 challans (fine-slips) have been issued under COTPA to those who violated smoke-free status norms in Chandigarh.
There are also provisions under which residents can register their complaints through e-mails with evidence regarding violations of COTPA.
“The additional station house officer of each police station has been designated as nodal officer for COTPA. We are conducting regular surveys to ensure that there is no sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions,” Niwas stated.
UT administration has also decided to issue identity cards to CTCC members, who have been empowered to impose fines under various sections of COTPA.
The city was officially declared ‘smoke free’ according to which people could not smoke at public places or even at places where the public has any access.
