The Union Territory from July 15 will no longer choke under the rings / shadows of smoke. Smoking in public places and public conveyances would be banned, surely a silver lining behind the smoky clouds!

The Home Secretary, Mr. Krishna Mohan said, ‘As per the decision of Chandigarh Administration to declare and enforce smoke free city, the Administration would launch an awareness campaign about the harms of smoking. Cigarette/Bidi/smoked tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemical compounds out of which at least 50 are cancer causing.’

Smoking is the root cause of hard diseases, not only affecting the active smokers but also staking the lives of the passive smokers who are at a greater loss. It ought to be manacled! Moreover, the smoke adds as a destructive catalyst for the Nature.

‘As breathing air is not a choice but a necessity; this is the most basic right of all. As per section 4 of ‘Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act 2003′, it is a penal offence to smoke at any public place in Chandigarh, (including smoke-free areas of hotels/restaurants/ bars/public areas) and public conveyances’ , said Mr. Mohan.

All police officials and food/drug inspectors are signalled high alert and are entrusted
With the power to take action against anyone found smoking in public. Throwing cigarette butts in open or spitting in any public area would also be considered a violation and anyone doing so is liable to be penalized.

The definition of public place as set by the Authorities includes, all places except for certain open spaces not visited by public. A person may smoke in open spaces not visited by public, for example; lawn area outside homes, road kerbs away from the markets, opens space outside any public area.

‘The initiative is a blessing! I used to worry about my child when he would go out to play in the park, as many smokers would generally haunt the area. We are actually getting closer to development’, says Rashmi Negi.

Smoking is strictly offensive in public area/office/buildings/ parks/stadiums/bus stops etc. As per the Section 4 read with Rule 3 of ‘Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act 2003′, In charge of all public offices are to ensure the display of warning boards in public offices, with the note: ‘No smoking area - smoking here is an offence.’

On the first day of implementing the Act, the Administration carried out a special ‘challan’ drive and within the first five days itself, 741 people had been fined for smoking in public places.

Watch out the next time you visit Chandigarh, don’t tend to ignore the ‘No Smoking’ sign or else for smoking you would get smoked out!!!