A decision to this effect was taken on the eve of Independence day tomorrow, the Minister said.
He hailed the district administration of Amritsar and Rupnagar for making "consistent efforts" in this regard.
School of Public Health at PGIMER, Chandigarh was entrusted the task of conducting a compliance survey and opinion poll to verify the compliance of COTPA Act, 2003 (Cigarettes & Other Tobacco Products Act) in the two districts.
Dr Sonu Goel, Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, has in his report concluded that absence of active smoking was noticed in 95 and 92 per cent of public places in Amritsar and Rupnagar, respectively.
