Madhya Pradesh govt bans hookah lounges in Indore

To curb anti-social elements and refrain youth from drug addiction, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to ban hookah lounges in the city for two months beginning tomorrow, a senior official said today.

About 40-50 hookah lounges being run in here have been banned under the prohibitory orders of section 144 of CrPC from May 20 for two months, additional district magistrate, Narayan Patidar, told PTI here.

Anyone found running violating prohibitory orders would be registered for a criminal case under section 188 of IPC, Patidar said.

The very decision was taken in view of a report submitted by the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) on the pros and cons of hookah lounge being run under the name of 'sheesha lounge/ parlour' in the city for many years, the ADM said.

There were a number of complaints that the owners of these lounge were serving even drugs or narcotics to youth in the garb of coffee bar, liquor bar or hooka, he said. In another development, the district administration also decided, with immediate effect, to keep the heritage market located in Rajwara area open till wee hours (2 AM) in view of tourists influx and growing business of Indore's famous handicrafts and oranments, an official said. Earlier, these shops in Rajwara were closed at 11 PM.