Tourist spots in C’nagar will soon become tobacco-free

S Ramesh
Mysuru: Chamarajanagar administration has decided to make all tourist spots in the district tobacco-free.
The district administration has decided to ban the use of tobacco at these spots and visitors will not be allowed to carry, chew, spit, or smoke tobacco in places of tourist interest. Anyone found violating the norm will be fined.
Sources told TOI that deputy commissioner Charulatha Somal had conducted a meeting with district administration officials and given clear-cut instructions to strictly implement the ban on consumption of tobacco products in all tourist spots, temple premises, gardens, parks, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and all muzrai temples across the district.
Instructions have also been given to check the violation of the prohibition of smoking in educational institutions, health institutions, auditoriums, cinema halls, public transports, bus stops, railway stations, restaurants and hotels, offices, shopping malls, canteens, libraries, post offices, courts, amusement parks, wines shops and other public places.
Officials were also told to put up stickers declaring these sites and places as tobacco-free and initiate measures to discourage the people using tobacco products.
Chamarajanagar assistant director of tourism Raghavendra told TOI that his department has made preparations to make tourist places like Chamarajeshwara temple, Chikkahole reservoir, Gopinatham, Himavad Gopalaswamy temple, MM Hills, B R Hills, lakes and prominent museums free of tobacco. “We will also spread awareness among people by putting up posters that these places are ‘no tobacco zones’ and ‘no smoking zones’ as per DC’s instructions,” he added.
Additional deputy commissioner Katyinidevi told TOI that instructions have also been given to the officials to find the violators with the help of police if they are unwilling to pay the penalty.