DELHI: The Delhi government has banned hookah bars in the city and has asked the Delhi Police and the Municipal Corporations to immediately cancel licenses of restaurants with hookah bars.
Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Tuesday said that hookah smoking is not allowed in non-smoking zones as per Section 4 of COTPA (Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act), as well as in the smoking zones, reports IANS.
He said that the Centre had issued notification in May with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare completely prohibiting the use of hookahs.
“Therefore, hookah bars in any form are illegal and Delhi Police and the Municipal Corporations should cancel the licenses of such restaurants, eateries and hotels where such illegal Hookah bars are operating,” Jain said.
Jain said that the State Tobacco Control Cell has conducted several raids in various parts of Delhi, and the chemical analysis picked “has shown presence of nicotine in significant amount in almost all the samples”.
This is despite the claim that they were using herbal products.
