Nearly Rs 1 lakh in fines have been collected by East Khasi Hills police in the last three months as the authorities conduct a crackdown against smoking in public.
The police are stepping up enforcement of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003. Under this legislation smoking in public places is banned as well as the sale of tobacco near schools and colleges.
Cantonment Beat House and Lumdiengjri Police Station have led the charge, booking the highest number of violators under this initiative, a press release informed today. Enforcement is being carried out in every police station, outpost and beat house across the district. This district-wide action is part of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), implemented by the Health and Family Welfare Department under the National Health Mission (NHM) Meghalaya.
“Tobacco causes 40 percent of all cancers and 90 percent of oral cancer (cases). Eliminating it can save countless lives. We appreciate the police’s active role,” NTCP State Nodal Officer Dr Nabneeta D Mawrie said.
In the last quarter EKH police have issued 1,178 fines and collected Rs 99,280 in the process.
