Activists in favour of ban

Anti-tobacco activists have lauded the BMC’s move to bring in a notification to ban smoking in public spaces.

With Mumbai hosting the world conference on tobacco in 2009, activists feel the time is just right for a law of this nature to bring the city on a global map as far as anti-smoking guidelines were concerned.

“For the first time, there is a move to address the health hazards caused by passive smoking. Recent data shows that fastest increasing cancer in the US is among women suffering from lung cancer, which is directly linked to passive smoking.

It’s as bad as active smoking and must be controlled,” said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, associate professor, head and neck service, Tata Memorial hospital. Chaturvedi helped BJP coporator Ram Barot draft the notification.

He, however, said it would be difficult implement the notification completely, on legal grounds. “Controlling smoking in parks may fail the legal test, but even getting restaurants and bars to ban it would be a great first step.”

If restaurants and bars in New York, California and Ireland could be smoke-free, why not those in Mumbai? questioned Padmini Somani, director, Salaam Bombay Foundation.

“The issue is of families’ health. Initial inhibitions on implementation would remain, but if the civic authorities apply their mind to it, results can be achieved.”