Additional DC tells officials to strictly enforce ban on packing hot food in plastic and newspapers

Additional Deputy Commissioner K. Raju on Wednesday, directed officials concerned to take immediate action banning use of plastic and newspapers to pack hot food items in all kinds of eateries across Dakshina Kannada.

Additional Deputy Commissioner K. Raju on Wednesday, directed officials concerned to take immediate action banning use of plastic and newspapers to pack hot food items in all kinds of eateries across Dakshina Kannada.

Chairing the District Level Coordination Committee meeting under the National Tobacco Control Programme here, Mr. Raju quoted reports of harmful chemicals in plastic and newspapers getting into hot food and causing health hazards. Food items parcels are mostly being taken from hotels and canteens by workers or patients in hospitals. In this context, he suggested taking appropriate steps to mandatorily ban the use of plastic and newspapers for hot food item packing.

Mr. Raju also issued strict instructions to impose fines on those people smoking tobacco products in public places, shops who do not display warning signs of tobacco products, shops who keep cigarette lighters and matchboxes in public places, etc. Those who display tobacco products on billboards with tobacco brand names or in any way promoting tobacco products, sell tobacco to those under the age of 21 and sell loose cigarettes and tobacco products should be fined.

The ADC said heads of schools and colleges should keep a watch on those selling tobacco within 100 meters of institutions and inform the local administration and police about the violators. If police, education department and local governments work in coordination, sale and consumption of tobacco can be controlled.

District Tobacco Control Cell officials informed that fine of up to ₹1,000 was being imposed on those smoking in public as well as retail sale of cigarettes by shopkeepers. A total of 2,587 cases were registered during the COTPA operation and a fine of ₹3.89 lakh was collected last year. As many as 52 billboards related to tobacco were removed.

District Health Officer Thimmaiah, District Surveillance Officer Naveen Chandra Kulal, Taluk Health Officer Sujay and others were present.