Coming down heavily on hookah bars promoting addiction among the city youth, district magistrate Rahul Tewari on Friday issued ban orders on such business concerns.
He exercised his extraordinary powers to enforce Section 144 of CrPC to stop functioning of hookah bars across the district.
The orders point out that tobacco used in hookahs is harmful for human consumption, especially for minors, who were 'frequently visiting these bars'.
"The tobacco intake from hookahs plays havoc with the physical as well as mental health of teenagers, thus it is necessary to ban the hookah bars in the district," Tewari said.
He said the orders are for all hookah bars falling under Ludhiana Municipal Corporation, municipal councils and villages across the district.
Complying with the orders, a team of health officials served notices to all hookah bars -- Mr Beans, One Happy Bean, Mochaccino, 40 Thieves, Grooves and Gravy, T Lounge, Hide Out and Arabic Infusion.
The orders clearly state that any individual or group found violating the ban orders would be booked under Section 188 of IPC.
Asked about the hookah bars functional in other parts of the district, food safety officer Manoj Khosla said the health department had not come across any such place outside Ludhiana, adding, "But if we get to know of any eatery or coffee shop providing hookahs anywhere in the district, we will initiate immediate legal action."
{{/usCountry}}Asked about the hookah bars functional in other parts of the district, food safety officer Manoj Khosla said the health department had not come across any such place outside Ludhiana, adding, "But if we get to know of any eatery or coffee shop providing hookahs anywhere in the district, we will initiate immediate legal action."
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, city residents have welcomed the decision, terming it as 'appropriate and wise' step in favour of the youth at large.
A group of doctors from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have welcomed the decision.
"Tobacco used in hookahs is bad and the use of narcotic substances leads to addiction, which ultimately causes varied physical and mental health hazards," a senior doctor said.