COTPA implementation, Police to strengthen - DK behind

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 31,2015: Superintendent of Police S D Sharanappa has said,  Dakshina Kannada police are working on measures for the effective enforcement of COTPA -  Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act.

Speaking to mediapersons on the COTPA the SP said that selling cigarettes or other tobacco products within 100 yards of the campuses of educational institutions in Puttur and Bantwal sub-divisions, Comlaints if filed against the person at the nearest police station, the police will act against such violators.

The Act aims at regulating the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

He said  "I have written to all the 96 government departments functioning in the district regarding the enforcement of the Act. The departments have also been asked to put up ’No Smoking’ boards on office premise.

The SP said that from 2013 till August 27, 2015, a total of 2,896 cases have been booked under the COTPA, and a fine of Rs 4,52,220 has been collected. In the last two months, 1,837 cases have been booked with a fine of Rs 3,28,870. A total of 84 cases have been booked in government offices.

In 2015, under Section 4 (ban on related to smoking in public places) of the COTPA, 1,849 cases have been booked, under Section 5 (bans all form of direct and indirect advertisements) four cases, Section 6 (sale of tobacco products to minors) 83 cases and Section 6b (prohibits sale of tobacco products within 100 yards from schools and colleges) 55 cases been booked in Dakshina Kannada district. A drive was organised in association with the Institute of Public Health, which has been coordinating with the Police Dept and other agencies for the effective enforcement of the Act. Apart from imposing fines on those smoking in public, the police have also inspected places selling cigarettes and other tobacco products within 100 yards of the campuses of educational institutions. Officers from  Institute of Public Health, said that Gadag, Kolar and Chikkamagaluru districts have already been declared as COTPA-compliant districts. In DK, work on enforcement and awareness has been completed up to 80 per cent.  It is shocking to see that in Mangaluru  smoking in public and selling cigarettes openly is common and the awareness seems very far away. Public must be more sensitive to regulations and laws.