Taking a strong view towards implementation of the guidelines of tobacco control act, 2003 for declaring the district a tobacco-free region, District Collector Ashutosh Pendekar has directed all manufacturers and sellers of tobacco products to strictly follow the guidelines under section 5 of COTPA 2003.

COTPA 2003 refers to the cigarettes and other tobacco products act (COTPA, 2003). Under the guidelines of this act, advertisement size for tobacco related products should not be more than 60x45cm and needs to carry health warning.

Smoking in all “public places” like bus stand, railway station, public park, community centres, etc is prohibited under this act. Collector directed the relevant bodies to take strong notice of any smoking in public place and to impose heavy fine and other penalties on the offender.

Sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 18 is prohibited under this act. The collector also directed to take strong notice of any such case and to bring the offender to book.

The Collector has categorically stated that he wants strict enforcement of the act to make the district tobacco free within the next 15 days.