Hyderabad: With little or no enforcement of the ban, smoking in public places continues unabated. Kirana stores located in residential areas are turning out to be the hotspots for college students and youngsters, which inconveniences local residents. Store owners patronise the youth as they tend to purchase other goods like soft drinks as well.
This is common in residential areas across the city, from Jubliee Hills, Madhapur and Gachibowli to places in Secunderabad like Sindhi Colony and Tarnaka. Manju Sharma, a retired teacher at A.S. Rao Nagar, said: “We have complained to the police patrols but there is no effect. We have even decided to boycott the kirana stores, but it does not make a difference as there are many patrons around.”
Asked about this, Dr Geeta Prasadini, additional director and in-charge of tobacco control, said, “It has been quite a struggle to implement the ban on smoking in public places. Meetings have been held from time to time but the co-operation of the police is required to implement it.” Even to enforce the ban, residential colonies are not on the priority list. A senior officer said, “Our main targets are market areas, public spaces and crowded areas.
The initial enthusiasm has clearly waned. The collection of penalties has fallen from Rs 12 lakh in 2012 to Rs 3 lakhs in 2013 and Rs 4 lakh in 2014. An officer said, “Fining the smokers Rs 100 is not at all pinching them. A stronger punishment must be put in place.”
