Hookah Bars Permanently Closed in Guwahati, Only Registered Vendors Allowed to Sell Tobacco

GUWAHATI: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) on Friday announced that all Hookah bars in the city would be closed down permanently.

A notification issued by GMC stated that all the Hookah bars under its jurisdiction are to be closed permanently.

Intending to regulate and restrict the sale of tobacco products, the GMC (Guwahati Municipal Corporation) on Friday announced that only registered vendors will be allowed to sell tobacco, cigarettes, and allied products in Guwahati.

The vendors will have to register themselves with the GMC to procure licenses. "Procuring licenses for these products will regulate the sale of tobacco in the city. Regulation of excess tobacco products is necessary to save people from life-long suffering caused by addictive tobacco products," the GMC stated.

It is to be noted that, on June 5, all hookah bars under the jurisdiction of GMC were temporarily banned given the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic situation.

Earlier, a webinar on law enforcement on tobacco control in Assam on July 3.

The webinar laid stress on Law Enforcement and COTPA- 2003 and other legislations of tobacco control in Assam. Nearly 60 police officers across Assam in the rank of DSP and OC participated in the programme.

Mrinal Medhi, State Project Manager, Assam State Cell, delivered the welcome address while chief guest Surendra Kumar, Inspector General of Police (CID), inaugurated the webinar. Guest speakers of the webinar were Dr. Arundhati Deka, Deputy Director, Health Services-cum-State Nodal Officer, NTCP Assam, Pratul Phukan, retired DIG of Assam Police, Ranjit Singh, Legal Advisor of Supreme Court of India, and other dignitaries from New Delhi.

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