Bhubaneswar, November 10: Orissa government today launched strict measures to implement the law prohibiting smoking at public places.
Anybody found to be smoking in public places would be penalised and a fine of Rs 200 would be imposed on the offender by the enforcement squad, Health and Family Welfare Minister Prasanna Acharya said.
Apart from taking punitive actions to enforce the ban, the government would also intensify campaign to create awareness among the people about the ill effects of smoking and use of tobacco in any form, he said.
Though the anti-smoking law had come into existence quite sometime back, its enforcement was delayed in Orissa in the absence of preparation of proper challan books and required documents, official sources said.
–Agencies