New Delhi, May 29: The Delhi government on Friday said
it is committed to make Delhi a smoke-free city well before
commencement of Commonwealth Games next year.
Delhi's Health and Family Welfare Minister Kiran Walia
said 76 government departments have identified Nodal Officers
and they are being trained to ensure compliance of prohibition
of smoking laws.
She said the government has formed eight raiding squads
to stop smoking in public places in Delhi.
"These squads have conducted raids on 15,033 public
places and have fined 10,456 persons," she said addressing a
function here. Walia added that 432 vendors were fined and a
total amount of Rs 10,73,743 has been fined from violators.
Walia was speaking while releasing a short-film on
"Tobacco: Threat to life and development".
Releasing the film, she said that tobacco health
warnings will be strictly implemented in Delhi on packages of
tobacco products.
Packaging industries will also be warned to follow the
guidelines, which will come into force by May 31.
"We are committed to make Delhi a smoke-free by the end
of 2009. It means nobody will be allowed to smoke in the
public places as prohibited by law.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, May 29, 2009, 21:28