Efforts on to make Delhi tobacco free, says Health Minister Walia

New Delhi, May 31 (ANI): Delhi Health Minister Dr. A.K. Walia today stated that raiding squads of the city government have been strictly enforcing provisions to make Delhi tobacco free as per provisions of Delhi Prohibition of Smoking and Non Smokers Health Protection Act, 1996 and Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Act, 2003.

He said that the government has been a forerunner in enforcing these Acts on a regular basis.

Currently eight raiding squads undertake inspections and act swiftly on receipt of complaints, Walia said.

During the two-year-period from 2010 to 2012, raiding squads visited 230414 places and inspected public service vehicles. Around 31000 persons, including 41 females were fined for violations.

Further, around 3800 tobacco vendors were fined. An amount of around of Rs.27 lakh was collected as fine.

Dr. Walia stated that smoking is banned within 100 meters of educational institutions, in enclosed/covered public places.

He also revealed that there is a ban on direct and indirect advertisement of tobacco products and an order for the mandatory display pictorial health warnings on tobacco products etc.

Dr. Walia stated this at a state level function organized to mark "World No Tobacco Day as Dry Day for Tobacco".

The government is striving to make Delhi smoke free to protect citizens from the ill effects of exposure to tobacco smoke, to reduce the prevalence of smoking and to honour the rights of citizens of Delhi to breathe clean air.

Parliamentary Secretary to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Anil Bhadrawaj, was also present on the occasion. (ANI)