UP: Colleges, schools to be 'tobacco free zones' from Jan 26

Kanpur, Jan 13: Students, teachers and staff of schools and colleges consuming tobacco will now have to pay Rs 500 fine as the district administration will declare these areas 'tobacco free zones' from January 26.

City Additional District Magistrate Avinash Singh on Tuesday said that the administration will declare premises of all schools and colleges in Kanpur tobacco free zones.

He said smoking or consumption of any tobacco products will be banned within the 100-metre radius of all schools and colleges from January 26.

"If a teacher, peon, student or anyone is found consuming tobacco then a fine of Rs 500 will be imposed on them. The fine collected will be utilised for welfare of schools," Singh said.

Orders in this regard have been given to principals of all schools and colleges. We have asked the principals to serve notices to shops selling tobacco products within the 100-metre radius of the campus, the ADM said.

If the shop owner does not heed, schools have been asked to inform the district administration, he added. We have ordered all the city magistrates to conduct raids at schools in their areas and remove all the shops selling tobacco, he said, adding, fine will be imposed on all errant shop owners.

The ADM said the administration wants strict implementation of orders in this regard.

PTI