Anti-tobacco drive: 26 cases registered, Rs. 4,140 fine imposed

Mysuru: In a bid to enforce the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) in city, the District Administration, with the assistance from the Kuvempunagar Police and the Department of Health and Family Welfare, launched a special drive at here on Saturday. The special drive which was held at Ramakrishnanagar A and B-Block, Vivekananda Circle, Revenue Layout, Srirampura Road, Dattagalli Road, Kuvempunagar Bus Depot and other places, covered bars, restaurants, petty shops, kiosks near educational institutions, bus stands and other public places. The objective of the drive was also to spread awareness on the provisions of COTPA and on the importance of public cooperation to enforce the Act, which bans the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions. During the drive, the authorities registered 26 cases and collected Rs. 4,140 fine from the offenders. The authorities said that the drive would be extended at all taluk centres. Shop and bar owners were instructed to display ‘No Smoking’ boards besides prominently displaying caution notices on how tobacco consumption is injurious to health. The authorities also informed them that any form of advertisement of tobacco products was illegal, and so was the sale of loose cigarettes. Kuvempunagar Inspector R. Vijayakumar and staff, officials of the Health and Family Welfare Department and others took part in the drive.