Public smokers to face music in C'magalur

The district police have initiated a 30 days special drive in all the police stations for the effective implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (COTPA) Act, 2003.

Chairing a meeting to discuss on the implementation of COTPA Act at his office on Thursday, Superintendent of Police R Chethan said that the Act has been effectively implemented in Gadag and Kolar districts on a pilot basis and both the districts have been declared as tobacco-free districts.

As the tobacco consumption affect human resource, the anti-tobacco campaign will be carried out in Chikmagalur district too.

“A deadline of 30 days has been set for the effective implementation of the Act in association with the district administration. The Act will be strictly implemented across the district in consultation with various department heads,” he said.

Additional SP and Nodal Officer for implementing the Act, Sanjeev M Patil warned the high penalty will be imposed against those who smoke in public places. Sign boards should be installed in school and college premises prohibiting the sale of tobacco products within 100 ft area of school / college premises. Sign boards should be installed in other public places too, including bus stands, parks, hotels, restaurants, bakeries, shops, theatres and all government and private offices. The police department will issue sign boards, he said.

He warned of strict legal action against those who sell tobacco products in prohibited areas. The advertisements publicising tobacco products will be removed from public places.

A penalty of Rs 200 will be imposed on those who smoke in public places, whereas a penalty of Rs 1,000 or a jail term of two years will be imposed on those who violate the prohibition on advertising cigarette or other tobacco products for the first time and penalty of Rs 5,000 and imprisonment of five years will be imposed on those who repeat the offence, the Additional SP said.