Hyderabad: The central govt has banned the Hookah parlours in establishments and at public places. They will be totally shut down with the implementation of the ban by Hyderabad police.
Police will be conducting raids to ensure that all hookah parlours are shut in the city, which is effective from this week onwards, reports DC.
Hyderabad Commissioner of Police M. Mahender Reddy said that their aim is to declare Hyderabad ‘a hookah-free city’ by implementing the government rule.
“We have alerted all the Station House Officers, ACPs, and Zonal DCPs to conduct searches in their areas and do a major crackdown on the hookah parlours. Stringent action will be initiated against those who violate the law,” said Mahender Reddy.
The new rule mentions “no service shall be allowed in any smoking area or space provided for smoking.”
Which means no hotels, restaurants, private clubs or parlours can let any of their customers smoke inside their premises. The rule does not specifically point out to the Hookah parlours.
The order is issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare by amending the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Act, 2008.
Airports have also been asked to put the signs, stating that no smoking was allowed inside.
“A section of youngsters in the city smoke in the parlours here and later adopt other bad habits. We need to make sure that the young generation remains healthy,” said a senior cop from Hyderabad.
Hookah parlours remain open beyond 11 pm violating the city police rules. They also allow teenagers into the parlour to stay back post midnight. Thus the implementation of hookah ban would promote civic safety, an official said.