Stern action against those smoking in public places: District Collector

Nagarkurnool: District Collector E Sridhar has directed officials to take stern action against people smoking in public places in the district. As part of this the Collector has formed a first of its kind district level committee to set up anti-tobacco cells across the district.

While taking part in a meeting with the district level committee to discuss the issue, the District Collector directed the police, health and other departments like Municipality and others to implement the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (COTP) Act and set up anti-tobacco cells across the district and take strict action against the tobacco consumers in public places.

"Cigarettes, Beedi, and Chutta all contain tobacco, which has Nicotine, a poisonous substance in it, due to which a person can become addicted which later leads to cancer. More than 30-40 per cent cases of cancer in the country are related to Tobacco consumption.

We will set up anti-tobacco cells across the district and monitor the public areas like schools, markets, bus stands, hotels restaurants, parks, cinema halls, bars, shopping malls, Tea stalls and areas near crossroads. If anyone is found violating the COTP Act they will be booked under various sections of the Act," the District Collector said.

As part of the district administrations move to impellent the imposition of ban on tobacco products, the district administration is planning to rope in the police and health departments as key departments to implement the anti-smoking law in the district.

The police and health departments will issue fine receipts against the violators. As per the COTP Act, anyone who is found smoking in public places can be booked under section 4 and if he repeats the same mistake then the government will punish him with a fine of Rs 5,000 and send him to jail for 5-year.

Similarly, under Section 6 of COTP Act, anyone who is found selling tobacco related substances at school premises then he will be fined with Rs 200. Under Section 6 (A) the government has powers to prosecute anyone who sells tobacco products to a person below 18-year of age.