Anti-tobacco drive: Delhi Govt issues challans of over Rs 40K

The Delhi Government today issued challans to several authorities including New Delhi Railway station of over Rs 40,000 for selling banned tobacco products.
On the occasion of 'Dry Day For Tobacco Drive' today the Health Department of Delhi Government sensitized 500 people including general public and staff of various departments on tobacco-related issues and filed a total of Rs 43,350 challans.
Dr S K Arora, Additional Director Health, Directorate of Health Services, said few illegal advertisement boards were removed from tobacco vendor shops and a strict warning was also issued to them.
Apart from this few challans were also issued for violation of law on the point of sale, he said.

"People should stop consuming tobacco because it kills and not because of the fear of being getting challaned," he said.
Challans of Rs 25,200 were issued in the name of ISBT authorities for multiple violations and challans of Rs 3,850 were made for violations by the public.

"At New Delhi Railway station, inspection was done only at two platforms, 1 and 14, and here also large number of violations were seen among the staff of the railway station.
"An amount of Rs 14,000 of challan was issued in the name of New Delhi Railway Station authority for multiple violations," Arora said.

He added that the 'No smoking' signages were not found in adequate number and as per guidelines and people were also sensitized regarding it.
The crack down was a part of the drive being carried out by Delhi Government on the last day of every month.
The official also said that the drive was conducted with the support of police and representatives of concerned departments and the activities were focused mainly at ISBT, Kashmiri Gate and New Delhi Railway Station in Central Delhi.
He said the drive was focused on ban on direct or indirect advertisement of tobacco products, ban on smoking in public places and warning regarding ban on sale of tobacco products to minors.

The observations made by the team included that the entire premises of ISBT was not having even a single 'no smoking' signage and maximum violation was done by the staff of ISBT.