Cops fine 21,600 for smoking in public places

Cracking its whip on violators, Delhi government's health department has fined as many as 21,600 people in the last 14 months for smoking in public places.

Cracking its whip on violators, Delhi government's health department has fined as many as 21,600 people in the last 14 months for smoking in public places.

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In addition to this, more than 3,000 tobacco vendors were also penalised for selling cigarettes and other tobacco products to minors.

Launching a month-long 'no tobacco' campaign, Delhi health minister AK Walia vowed that the government crackdown against the violators of ban on smoking in public places will continue.

According to the health department, during January 2010 to March 2011, a total of 1.81 lakh places were inspected and 21,600 persons and around 3,200 tobacco vendors were penalised.

Inaugurating the month-long 'no tobacco' campaign, the minister exhorted the citizens to avoid smoking and said around 3,000 people die everyday due to tobacco habits in India.

"It causes 10 lakh deaths per year in the country," said Walia.

The campaign has been organised by Bhagidari Jan Sahyog Samiti in association with directorate of health services of Delhi government. Walia said Delhi is a pioneering state to implement tobacco control legislations.

"We have been implementing provisions of Delhi Prohibition of Smoking and Non Smoker's Health Protection Act 1996 and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003," added Walia.

Both the legislations have provision relating to ban in smoking in public places, prohibiting sale of tobacco products to the minors, prohibiting sale of tobacco products within hundred metre radius of a school and ban on advertisement of tobacco products.