the goan I network
VASCO
An enforcement team booked around 24 violators, including Vasco Tourist Hotel run by GTDC and several nationalised banks for not complying to the provisions under the COTPA and subsequently were also
challaned.
The State administration comprised of Mormugao Mamlatdar staff, a PSI from Vasco police, health
officer and coordinator of Goa Civic & Consumer Action Network (GOACAN), Roland Martins who carried out a drive to check for compliance of COTPA.
The violators have been booked under Sec 4, 5 and 6A of the Act and a fine of nearly Rs 4,800 has been collected. They were booked for not complying with the display of boards such as “preventing use of cigarettes and tobacco products” at the establishment.
Speaking to the media, GOACAN coordinator Roland Martins informed that the drive was conducted as per instructions of South Goa Collector. Martins informed that a drive was taken up in the area around the MMC building to focus on compliance of Section 4 of COPTA where public are warned that no smoking should be done in a specific place and a board of a designated size as specified is to be displayed.
“If a person is selling tobacco products then it is important that the tobacco products should not be displayed for public eye contact to protect the children from getting attracted to the tobacco products. There should also be a separate board indicating tobacco products not available for anyone below 18 years,” said Martins and added that they would request the Chief Officer of MMC to follow up the issue.
Martins also said that they will inform Food and Drugs Administration​ (FDA) director and officials that
many places registered under FDA had failed to comply with the COTPA Act and accordingly a report will also be sent to South Goa Collector for necessary
action.
