New Delhi: Around 1.46 lakh smokers and vendors were fined in the past few years following 7.54 lakh raids in the city in connection with violation of laws related to tobacco.
This was disclosed by Delhi Health Minister AK Walia on Tuesday while launching a Hindi website for anti-tobacco campaign.
Addressing the gathering, Walia said Delhi was the pioneer to implement tobacco control legislation Delhi Prohibition of Smoking and Non Smokers Health Protection Act 1996 and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003.
"A number of flying squads visited public places to catch hold of smokers. Raids were conducted at 7.54 lakh places resulting in challaning of 1.40 lakh smokers and action against 6, 200 vendors for violating laws," he said.
A doctor himself, Walia said tobacco continues to be the second major cause of death, disease and disability as tobacco smoke contains more than seven thousand deadly chemical substances.
"Nicotine in tobacco is the most addictive substance in the world. Consumption of tobacco in India causes around 10 lakh deaths per year and major health problems. Around 3,000 people die daily.
"Tobacco use is the major cause of lung disease, heart disease, cancer, asthma attacks, sudden infant death syndrome, cildhood respiratory diseases, chronic cough, TB and impotency," he said.
He said the newly launched website is linked to Facebook and You Tube. Walia also said that a toll free number 1800110456 has been commissioned for lodging any complaints regarding violations of anti tobacco laws.
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