Smoking banned in Darjeeling

Kolkata, Aug 16 (PTI) The West Bengal government hasbanned smoking in public places and sale of tobacco productsto minors in Darjeeling district failing of which would drawa fine of Rs 200. Stating that the ban was in force in the Hills as perCigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) (Prohibitionof Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce,Production, Supply and Distribution) in 2003, DistrictMagistrate Anurag Srivastava told PTI that the administrationhas started its implementation from the Independence Day. "It (ban on smoking in public places) was in place butthe implementation was not done properly. Now on the directivefrom the Health department we started implementing the ban inthe district from yesterday," he said. Elaborating more on the ban, the DM said the sale oftobacco products to minors would be a punishable offence whilesale of tobacco products would not be allowed within 100metres of an educational institution. "Not only the locals, this (ban) goes for tourists also.Anybody found smoking in public places will be fined Rs 200.And nobody will be allowed to sell tobacco-related productslike cigarettes to minors below 18 years," Srivastava said,adding that manufactures of tobacco products should adhere tothe norm related to warnings on packages. As per the COTPA, failing of adhering to the norm relatedto warnings on packages, the manufacturer of tobacco productson first conviction can face upto 2 years of imprisonment orcan be fined Rs 5,000. In fact, the DM said, emphasis would also be on theadvocacy campaign for creating awareness among the massesregarding the issue. (MORE) PTI SCH SUSSRY