666 persons fined for smoking at public places in Haryana

As many as 666 persons have been fined for smoking at public places in Haryana since the imposition of ban on smoking at public places on October 2 last and a sum of Rs 45,170 had been recovered from them.

In a message issued here today on the eve of 'World No-Tobacco Day', Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda called upon the people, especially the youth, to keep themselves away from smoking and consumption of tobacco in any form.

Hooda also stressed the need for launching a mass campaign to generate awareness about this "preventable cause of death".

"The increased awareness amongst the youth would help in protecting the youth from becoming smokers and tobacco products
users", he said, according to an official release here.

He said that a core group has been constituted for regular monitoring and conducting surprise checks under Anti-Tobacco laws.

Reporting mechanism for violation of Anti-Tobacco laws has also been put in place. The State Health Department has prohibited the sale of Tobacco products in a periphery of 100 yards around the educational institutions.