12,870 anti-tobacco challans issued in Punjab in 7 months

12,870 anti-tobacco challans issued

Max challans in Hoshiarpur

• In seven months, the maximum challans (1,558) have been issued in Hoshiarpur district and minimum in Pathankot district (112)
• In the terms of collection of fine, Patiala district has topped the chart with Rs 1,41,480 against the total number of 1,108 challans and Tarn Taran district figured last in the list with its fine collection of Rs 5,410 against the total 171 challans

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, December 10

It seems the state is not acting tough with violators of the Cigarettes & Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) as just 12,870 challans have been issued for smoking in public places and under other provisions of the Act from April 1 to October 31 this year and a fine of Rs 7,59,339 collected in the state.

In these seven months, the maximum challans (1,558) have been issued in Hoshiarpur district and minimum in Pathankot district (112).

In the terms of collection of fine, Patiala district has topped the chart with Rs 1,41,480 against total number of 1,108 challans and Tarn Taran district figured on the last in the list with its fine collection of Rs 5,410 against total 171 challans.

Further, as many as 1,422 challans have been issued in Gurdaspur district, 781 in Ropar district, 772 in Amritsar district, 679 in Faridkot district, 671 in Barnala district, 577 in Mansa district, 564 in Ludhiana district, 526 in Sangrur district, 483 in Mohali district, 480 in Bathinda district, 468 in Fazilka district, 462 in Kapurthala district, 408 in Muktsar district, 404 in Jalandhar district, 403 in SBS Nagar district, 339 in Fatehgarh Sahib district, 296 in Ferozepur district and 186 in Moga district.

Dr Veerinder Pal Singh, Nodal Officer, Muktsar, said, “The Health Department is trying its best to issue maximum number of challans. Even the heads of all other departments in districts, headquarters are appointed as nodal officers to issue challans, but their percentage of issuing challans is negligible.”

Courtesy: The Tribune