VIJAYAWADA — The NTR District administration has launched an intensive enforcement and awareness campaign to eliminate public smoking and the sale of illegal tobacco products near educational institutions.
District Collector G Lakshmisha spearheaded the initiative by leading a massive public rally comprising students, youth groups, and health department officials to mark World No Tobacco Day.
The campaign aims to strictly enforce the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) across the region.
Addressing the gathering, Collector Lakshmisha emphasized that the drive goes beyond mere observation days, transitioning into a sustained legal crackdown.
Task forces will inspect retail kiosks to ensure compliance with the mandatory ban on tobacco sales within a 100-yard radius of schools and colleges. The administration is also involving local student communities to act as watchdogs and report violations to urban municipal authorities.