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Chandigarh, Health and Family Welfare Minister Punjab Mr. Surjit Kumar Jayani has directed the deputy commissioners of all the districts to ensure forceful implementation of the government directive to impose complete ban on sale of tobacco, single stick cigarette and other tobacco products near the educational and religious institutions under Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA 2003) in Punjab.
In a statement issued here today, Mr. Jayani said that a notification in this regard has also been issued. The officers concerned have beenespecially asked to keep a close vigil near educational institutions, colleges and coaching institutes, schools and ensure complete ban on sale of single stick cigarettes and all kinds of tobacco products within 100 yards of these institutions. Anybody violating the directive would be dealt with strictly, he added.
The Minister also said that the district level monitoring committees have also been constituted by the Health department which would inspect the areas under their jurisdiction and check whether any such small khokha or shop was functional near educational and religious institutions. They have been asked to instantaneously report to the senior authorities so that the shops could be closed immediately closed and strict action be taken against the owners not complying with the government directive.
