The Punjab Government on Saturday issued strict instructions to all the Deputy Commissioners to immediately cancel the licences of those hotels, restaurants and commercial institutions that are found violating the anti-smoking law.

A communique issued by the State Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal to all deputy commissioners and heads of the departments pointed out that smoking, especially passive smoking, is dangerous to  health.He said that the Government has already declared 18 districts as smoke-free and was in the process of making Punjab total smoke-free within next three months by implementing the order in remaining three districts.

Kaushal said that it was a matter of great regret that 12 per cent population of Punjab still consumes tobacco in one form or the other.“licences of hotels, restaurants and commercial institutions violating the anti-smoking law must be immediately cancelled,” he said.He said that each DC was duty bound to enforce the provisions of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, and submit a monthly report to him.

Emphasising on strict implementation of COTPA, the Chief Secretary said that all enforcement and counselling departments especially police, education, local Government, transport and excise and taxation have to act in unison to enforce COTPA and DCs would ensure synergy in their cooperation for enforcing the act in its true spirits.

The communique instructed all departments to enforce ban on cigarettes and other tobacco products including flavoured tobacco.Instructions have also been issued to all head of the departments and the local bodies department to put up signages indicating ban on smoking in public places and other important places.“The Government would take strict action against those found lax in enforcement of COTPA,” he added.

Issuing instructions to all departments to enforce ban on e-cigarette and other tobacco products including flavoured tobacco, the Chief Secretary pointed out that field units have to keep an eye on unscrupulous sale of e-cigarette especially by e-commerce companies.

Asking deputy commissioners to constitute permanent district and block level task forces, he said that the DCs must involve NGOs and religious bodies in enforcement of COTPA in their respective districts.Besides DCs, HODs, a copy of the communiqué has also been sent to all police commissioners and SSPs of the districts.