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Srinagar, May 4 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has launched a drive in Srinagar to enforce a ban on smoking.

The drive was to ensure that smoking does not take place at public places and selling of cigarettes and other tobacco products is prohibited near educational institutions.

A team of district officials, headed by Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Mehrajuddin Kakroo inspected various offices and hospitals in the city.

The team comprising government officials from various departments and members of Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health Association fined several offenders and informed them about the ill effects of smoking.

“The main aim of starting this drive was to spread awareness among people. To tell people that cigarette smoking in public places is harmful for health. That is why we have started this drive with the administration and the voluntary health association of India,” said Syed Hashim, a member of Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health Association.

“In my opinion it is a great move and I believe that if this drive continues like this, then very soon the environment here will be neat and clean,” he added.

Offenders were fined Rs 200 each and cigarettes and tobacco products worth thousands seized and later put to flames in presence of the media in Srinagar.

Cigarettes were also confiscated from shopkeepers, who were selling the products within 100 yards of an educational institution especially schools.

“In this drive, the district administration, police, health professionals, drug officers, NGOs, voluntary health associations are jointly working on this together. The aim behind this is to create awareness so that they leave smoking,” said Kakroo, another member of the Jammu and Kashmir Voluntary Health Association.

The locals are hailing this move and feel that if successfully implemented this drive can lead to a smoke-free environment.”This is a very good step taken by the government. There is no doubt about it. Every time we travel in a car one or the other person smokes a cigarette and the others are exposed to passive smoking,” said Mansoor Ahmad, a local.

“So more than the smoker it is the passive smoker who gets affected and is harmful for them. So, in my opinion the government should take up more such initiatives,” he added.

A number of locals including senior citizens and volunteers from different organizations participated in the drive. They were seen holding placards with anti-smoking slogan.

Under Section-4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003 (better known as COTPA), smoking in public places is prohibited and any violation of this Act is punishable with a fine up to Rs 200. (ANI)