Punjab government has issued directions to all municipal corporation commissioners to ensure tobacco vends without proper permits are closed down.
Director, Local Government (Punjab), Priyanka Bharti has issued a circular directing Regional Deputy Directors of Municipal Committees and Commissioners of Municipal Corporations to check all shops selling tobacco in their respective areas and order immediate closure if they were being run without license under the Punjab Tobacco Vends Fees Act-1953, according to an official spokesperson.
In a release issued here, Principal Secretary (Health) Vini Mahajan said sale of all kinds of chewable tobacco and loose cigarettes has already been banned in Punjab and added that license of a commercial establishment can be cancelled in case of violation of Tobacco Control Act.
"There are many poisonous chemicals in tobacco due to which about 2,200 people are killed daily in India. So it is very important to curb this menace," she said while appealing to common people to help government in this endeavour.
Meanwhile, Punjab's Food Safety Commissioner, Hussan Lal, has also issued a circular to all DCs and CSs that Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003 is being implemented in all districts of Punjab.
"License under FSSAI is issued to any eatery/shop/ commercial establishment only to sell safe food products only and not to sell harmful tobacco products.
"Designated Food Safety Officers are empowered to cancel license of any eatery/shop/commercial establishment, licensed under FSSAI, if tobacco products are sold in the premises," he said.
