The Chennai Corporation on Thursday conducted raids on shops selling tobacco products near schools in all its 10 zones.
During the raids shops located near 300 schools were found selling tobacco products. A range of tobacco products, totally weighing 193 kg, were seized by officials of the Corporation's Health Department. The action was taken under the provisions of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products Prohibition Act 2003. Sale of tobacco products or cigarette to any person who is under 18 years of age and in the area within a radius of 100 yards of any educational institution is prohibited.
Most of the shops found selling tobacco products to students were in Anna Nagar, T.Nagar, Nungambakkam, Egmore, Virugambakkam, Teynampet, Velachery, Adyar, Perambur, Pulianthope, Seven Wells, Royapuram, Saidapet, Ayanavaram and Kodungaiyur.
Sheela, whose shop near C.D.Nayagam Higher Secondary School in T.Nagar was raided, admitted that she knew that it was against the law to sell tobacco products to school children.
