The Hindu : Front Page : Smoking ban comes into force

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Friday, Oct 03, 2008
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Smoking ban comes into force

New Delhi: For long a style statement for many, lighting up in front of your friends or peers will not be such a good idea any more with the ban on smoking in public places coming into force on Thursday. A pet project of Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, the ban covers hotels, restaurants, pubs, offices and even international airports.

According to Dr. Ramadoss, Delhi, Jharkhand and Chandigarh are some states which have already begun implementing the ban.

The Health Minister has been involved in a war of words with many personalities including Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan who advised him to concentrate on issues of greater importance like rural health.

He has also advised West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to quit smoking at least in Writers’ Building.

In a tongue-in-cheek comment, Shah Rukh Khan said: “It is a good step to make sure that the country is smoke-free. A better step would be to ban cigarettes, make them illegal and hang anyone who is smoking. We cannot do that as we are a democratic country.” However, he added that everybody should comply with the ban. “I hope everyone calls upon their good selves to do it. I myself would try my best,” he said.

Any violation of the ban is a punishable offence with a fine up to Rs.200.

In Delhi, the ban on smoking in public places is already there. The Administration has fined 1,131 people for smoking in the Capital till July 31 this year.

In Chennai, bus stands, cinema houses and several other places turned tobacco-free on Thursday as people refrained from smoking.

Smokers warned

From the early hours of the day, police and transport officials were seen warning the smokers in public places, including bus stops and suburban railway stations. Murugan, a shop owner near the busy T. Nagar bus stand in Chennai who usually saw roaring sales of cigarettes in the early hours, said there was only 15 per cent sale.

He said he used to sell cigarettes worth Rs.1,200 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. But today [Thursday] he sold cigarettes worth Rs.180 only.

Chennai Police said for the first few days it would be only warning and educating. However, from next week onward, stringent steps would be taken. The Union Health Ministry issued a notification on May 30 for the ban under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003. — PTI

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