Smokers alert! Charminar turns into a ‘No Smoking’ zone

The famous Charminar of Hyderabad, which inspired a cigarette brand to share the same name, is ready to take a bold move. It is set to become a ‘No Smoking’ area, and offenders will be awarded punishment.
As per the said initiative, the local police in order to put a stop on this activity of smoking in public have put up ‘No Smoking’ boards around Charminar, a popular tourist spot in Hyderabad. Not just this, the police have also set up such boards in spots that surround the said historical monument.
Since this spot receives tons of visitors all throughout the year, the police have put up boards saying ‘Smoking is an offence here’, ‘No Smoking area’, and ‘Smoking is injurious to health’, on barricades and establishments around the area.
An official in the know-how stated that the boards and posters have been set up in connection with the World No Tobacco Day, and with the motive of making Hyderabad a smoke free city.
Officials also stated that this ban will be strictly implemented, and offenders will have to bear the heat if they fail to comply with the orders. As per the anti-smoking law in India, smoking in public was banned all over the country from October 2, 2008. He also mentioned that though prohibition on smoking in public has always been there in the city, but awareness was not up to the mark. Therefore, the board will continue to display in the area, while continuous efforts to launch awareness programme will be introduced throughout the year he added.