PAAN MASALA, CIGARETTES TO BE SOLD ONLY FROM LICENSED SHOPS

LUCKNOW : From January, cigarettes and paan masala will be sold from only those shops that procure licence from the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC), said Indramani Tripathi, municipal commissioner. On Wednesday, the LMC House had passed a resolution to bring tobacco sale under the licensed products category. After January 1, the LMC will initiate action against shops operating without licence,” he added. The licence fee, which was initially fixed at Rs 5,000, has been slashed to Rs 1,000 per year, which comes to around Rs 92 per month, said municipal commissioner.

LUCKNOW: From January, cigarettes and paan masala will be sold from only those shops that procure licence from the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC), said Indramani Tripathi, municipal commissioner.

On Wednesday, the LMC House had passed a resolution to bring tobacco sale under the licensed products category.

“Shops selling tobacco or its products in the state capital will have to seek a licence from the corporation. Shopkeepers selling tobacco products have enough time for licence application and fee submission,” said Tripathi.

After January 1, the LMC will initiate action against shops operating without licence,” he added.

The licence fee, which was initially fixed at Rs 5,000, has been slashed to Rs 1,000 per year, which comes to around Rs 92 per month, said municipal commis-

sioner.

“We have also planned a few awareness workshops during this period. Once we begin issuing tobacco licences, shops, stalls or roadside carts violating the rule will not be allowed to operate,” he said.

Around 12 lakh people die in

the country due to cancer caused by tobacco, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) report. Under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, (COPTA) 2003, the sale of tobacco is banned within 100-metre radius of hospitals and schools, but this rule is seldom followed. But now, the Lucknow Municipal Corporation is armed with its own rules and regulations in addition to the existing laws.

The licence is to regulate the sale, packaging and advertising in LMC areas, said mayor Sanyukta Bhatia.

She said two shops selling tobacco products in an area of 200 metres would not be allowed. However, in the case of mandis like Pan Dariba, which is a wholesale market for such products, the norms would be eased as the LMC understand their problems.

Now, shops selling tobacco products may not be allowed to sell toffees, chocolates, candies and biscuits from their stalls, as these are products that attract kids to tobacco shops initially, said the mayor.

“LMC officials have already prepared a list of shops located near schools, religious places and hospitals. These shops need to be pushed out of the 100-metre periphery,” said Sanyukta Bhatia.