VASCO
The Mormugao Taluka Enforcement Squad booked cases and collected fines of Rs 2,000 from kiosks, fast food stalls, sweet shops and an exhibition cum sale at GTDC Residency, after conducting inspections in Vasco on Monday to check for violations of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).
The Squad, led by Mormugao Mamlatdar Dhiren Banaulikar and GOACAN Co-ordinator Roland Martins, were accompanied by office staff Surendra Kerker CI, Hanumant Mandrekar Talathi Vasco, PSI Diago Gracias, Lorna Fernandes (Secretary GOACAN) and Dayanand Thakkar (Sanitary Inspector of UHC).
During the inspection, the Squad also found in some establishments that the No Smoking signage was not properly displayed as required under COTPA.
Earlier, the Taluka Enforcement Squad met Vasco Railway Station Manager Ramdas Gudemane and discussed the need to declare Vasco Railway Station as a "Tobacco Free Zone" by installing special signage as prescribed by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
The Squad also proposed a No Smoking signage at the ticket and parcel booking counters, both platforms and the rest rooms as prescribed under Section 4 of COTPA.
The Squad requested a compliance report from SWR officials within a month, which would be forwarded to the district collector.
