FDA fines 80 people for smoking in public

Updated on: 01 June,2011 06:32 AM IST |
Aishwarya Kadam |

Collects Rs 12,500 from individuals and shops selling tobacco products near schools

Collects Rs 12,500 from individuals and shops selling tobacco products near schools

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Launching a special drive against smoking in public places, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) fined 80 people in two days. On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day yesterday, the FDA said it had collected a fine of Rs 12,300. Chandrashekhar Salunkhe, assistant commissioner, FDA, said the thrust of the drive was to catch people smoking in public places such as bus stops, railway stations, multiplexes and government offices, among others.

Salunkhe also specified that the drive even focused on shops that sell cigarettes and gutkha products within 100 metres of educational institutions. "If we find shops selling gutkha products, we will first fine them Rs 200 if this is happening within 100 metres of educational institutes. If we get repeat complaints, we will lodge a complaint against them," he said.

"I think some vendors have already got a whiff of this drive as they have started measuring how many metres away they are from schools and shutting their shop for these two days if they find they are within 100 metres of an educational institute."u00a0 He added that the FDA has also put up posters across the city to raise awareness about the law on smoking in public places, sale of tobacco products as well as the ill effects of smoking during the two-day campaign.

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