21% spike in compliance to ‘no smoking signs’: survey

A survey conducted by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bengaluru City Police (BCP) has revealed that in the last year, the city has seen 21% increase in the compliance to display of ‘no smoking signage’ in public places.

Among the eight BBMP zones, the south zone is the best when it comes to implementation of tobacco control-related laws.

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said, “It is shocking that people are smoking near educational institutions and hospitals, stern rules have to be implemented.”

Parameshwara also told BBMP officials and the police to take steps to ensure prohibition of smoking on lines of the liquor ban in Gujarat.

“After awareness programmes were started by the police on drug menace, the cases are coming down. Along with this, we have to conduct awareness drives on smoke-free Bengaluru,” Parameshwara added.

According to the survey, 70.5% of public place smoking ban violations are found to be around the points of sale.

App to file plaints

Parameshwara, who also holds Bengaluru development portfolio, launched a smoke-free mobile application.

The application can be used by the public to register complaints related to smoking in public. The app sends complaints to the tobacco control centre and the authorities concerned will take action.

The survey also highlights that only 31% of Bengaluru has shown progress when it comes to following Section 4 of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act.