Tobacco Violations Dominate Telangana NCRB Data
Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of such cases nationwide, with 26,451 offences during the year.
Hyderabad: Ninety-five per cent of environment-related offences registered in Telangana during 2024 were overwhelmingly linked to tobacco-law violations, according to the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Out of 591 environment-related offences recorded in the state, as many as 564 cases were registered under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.
The NCRB’s “Environment Related Offences” tables show that only 27 cases were booked under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, while Telangana reported zero cases under several other major environmental laws, including the Forest Act, Wildlife Protection Act, Air Pollution Act, Water Pollution Act, Noise Pollution Rules, and National Green Tribunal Act.
Telangana ranked sixth in the country in environmental offences registered under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) in 2024. Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of such cases nationwide, with 26,451 offences during the year.
The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, contains several rules to control tobacco use and protect public health. The law bans the sale of tobacco products to people below 18 years of age and near educational institutions within a 100-yard radius. It also makes pictorial health warnings mandatory on all tobacco product packages sold in India. In addition, smoking is prohibited in public places and workplaces under the Act.
Highlighting recent enforcement efforts, Vaibhav Gaikwad, Task Force DCP, Hyderabad Commissionerate, said that Hyderabad police conducted raids last month on pan shops accused of selling tobacco products to minors and operating near educational institutions. He said multiple tobacco products were seized during the raids carried out across Hyderabad city police limits.
As part of the city-wide “Operation Safe School” drive, nearly 5,000 police personnel raided 558 shops located near schools and colleges across Hyderabad. Cases were registered against shops found violating provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003. Police said the drive was aimed at preventing students from falling into addiction and drug abuse at an early stage.
Police commissioner V. C. Sajjanar had warned of strict action against shopkeepers selling tobacco products to minors and near educational institutions. The police also announced continuous monitoring through special teams and urged the public to report violations.
Tobacco use is a leading risk factor for cancer and several other non-communicable diseases, and remains the single largest cause of preventable deaths globally, leading to premature death in nearly half of its users. According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (2017), around 28.6 per cent of Indians aged 15 years and above consume tobacco in some form.
Story written by: AMATALLAH WAHEED