We cannot impose smoking Ban says BMC...

MUMBAI; While the rest of the country stubs it out, at least in public, from October 2, in Mumbai you can carry on smoking. That’s because the BMC, which is supposed to implement the smoking ban, has thrown up its hands.

“We simply cannot do it with the current infrastructure and manpower,” says civic health executive officer Jayaraj Thanekar.

Besides, the BMC’s health department has other issues on its priority list. “We have been dealing with monsoon-related illnesses so far and have not even had the time to think how we will implement the smoking ban,” he added.

But he was hopeful of being able to partially enforce the ban. “We might be able to strictly impose isolation of smoking areas in restaurants,” he said, adding this is the best they can do till penalty is hiked.

Thanekar says they have not got any intimation from the state government either.
Sources in the state health department confirmed that though the Union government has already sent the draft, the order was yet to reach the BMC.

DNA Correspondent

Monday, September 29, 2008 11:27 IST
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1193994