Clearing the air for the Games

Delhi government plans to rate city hotels and restaurants to encourage compliance with anti-smoking laws

The Delhi government is clearing air. And literally so. Preparing for the Commonwealth Games, 2010, the government is planning to enforce the ban on smoking at public places more strictly.

To encourage a smoke-free environment at restaurants and hotels, the Delhi government is planning to launch an anti-smoking rating system. It will rate hotels on the implementation of the smoking ban in their premises.



"The exercise will be carried out by the Delhi Tourism Department before the Commonwealth Games, 2010. The rating system will start a healthy competition among city hoteliers and restaurant owners.

Ultimately, it will encourage the ban on smoking," said a Delhi health department official, who is in-charge of enforcement of the ban.

"The system will encourage hotels and restaurants to take a more systematic approach towards implementation of anti-smoking laws in their premises.

Besides, it will also help visitors to identify smoking and non-smoking zones," said the official.
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As an incentive for their efforts, the government may give free publicity to those hotels and restaurants which score high on the rate card.
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"We will try to rate all city hotels and restaurants as per the facilities they provide to customers to implement the ban," said the official.
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In consultation with hotel and restaurant associations, the Tourism Department will decide on criteria for rating. The rating will either be provided online or displayed with signboards at hotels," said the official.
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The hospitality industry is appreciating the strategy. "This system will encourage us to promote anti-smoking laws.
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We welcome the move," said JN Chawla, a member of the Delhi Hotels and Restaurant Association.
"This strategy will make the city healthier during the Games.
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We do not have a separate zone for smokers. Our visitors step outside if they wish to smoke. Now, maybe we will create a smoking area," said the general manager of Code, a restaurant and bar in east Delhi.

Meanwhile, the city's health department claims that the ban on smoking has been successfully implemented.
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"As far as the ban on smoking at public places is concerned, it could be deemed as successful.

According to reports, there has been a dip of 25 per cent in the sale of cigarettes since last year," said an official of the health department, wishing anonymity.

The Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in New Delhi between October 3 and 14, 2010