Tanveer Hussain
Baramulla, Feb 16: The District Development Commissioner (DDC) Baramulla has declared the popular tourist destinations of Gulmarg and Tangmarg as “Smoke-Free Tourist Areas.” The order, issued under Order No. 76/DDC of 2025, prohibits smoking and spitting of tobacco in these areas, making violations punishable under relevant laws.
The directive comes ahead of the “Khelo India Winter Games 2025” scheduled to be held in Gulmarg. The administration aims to ensure a clean and healthy environment for visitors and participants while aligning with the “Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan,” a campaign to curb substance abuse in the region.
According to the order, the harmful effects of tobacco use, which contribute to a significant percentage of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and lung disorders, necessitate stringent measures to curb its use in public places. The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, already prohibits smoking in public places, and the latest order extends its enforcement more stringently in Gulmarg and Tangmarg.
The administration also highlighted the public health hazards associated with spitting tobacco, which can spread infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, and swine flu. Under Section 270 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), any act causing public nuisance, including illegal omissions that lead to common injury or annoyance, is a punishable offense.
To ensure the implementation of the order, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Baramulla, the Chief Executive Officer of the Gulmarg Development Authority (GDA), the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Gulmarg, and the Chief Medical Officer have been directed to take strict action against violators. [KNT]
