The Chennai Corporation has intensified its raids on tobacco shops operating near schools and those selling banned tobacco products following a Madras High Court directive on June 13. “This is an ongoing process that has been intensified over the last week,” a senior Corporation official said.
On Thursday, 320 shops were inspected, 57 kg of tobacco products seized and Rs. 8,500 imposed in fine amounts. From June 15 to 22, a total of 3,000 shops have been inspected and 860 kg of tobacco products seized. A total of Rs. 70,000 has been imposed in fine amounts.
Raids are being carried out in all 15 zones, said the official, with teams headed by the assistant health officers.
The violations under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 that are being looked at are shops selling tobacco products within 100 yards of an educational institution, not displaying boards stating that tobacco would not be sold to anyone below the age of 18 and the sale of banned tobacco products, he said.
“Spot fines of between Rs. 100 and Rs. 500 are being issued. If we find banned products sold or tobacco sold near school, we seize it,” he said.
The daily raids will continue for one month.
The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, in its drive in Chennai, has fined a total of 327 persons and collected a fine amount of Rs 95,700 between June 15 and 23 for violations of the act including smoking in public places.
