MANGALURU: The Dakshina Kannada Tobacco Control Cell has collected Rs 1.95 lakh as penalty from those who violated various sections of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act-2003 (COTPA Act) since April 2016.
As many as 1,218 cases have been booked so far in the district. Rs 23,500 fine has been collected from 169 cases booked from April 2020 to January 2021. A fine of Rs 79,800 has been collected from 615 cases booked between April 2019 and March 2020.
Dr Jagannath P, head of the department of Public Health-Nitte (deemed-to-be) University, said COTPA has helped in the reduction of smokers. He was speaking a workshop on National Tobacco Control Programme and The COTPA Act jointly organised by the Dakshina Kannada Tobacco Control Cell and Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists Association (DKDWJA) on Tuesday, Dr Jagannath said tobacco consumption leads to other habits among youth. “Awareness and effective implementation of COTPA helps in the reduction of tobacco use. People should use the provisions of COTPA to prevent smoking in public places. Like cigarettes and beedis, chewable tobacco products are also dangerous,” he added.
Dakshina Kannada ZP CEO R Selvamani highlighted the need to sensitise the public on the ill-effects of tobacco.