Yesterday, Somorjit Ningombam, State Nodal Officer, National Tobacco Control Programme (NTPC), said that various laws available for public health is useless in Manipur as no law enforcers have ever acted to actually enforce them. Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA), was enacted by the Government of India to evade dangerous health effects of Tobacco. Somorjit Ningombam was addressing gathering in a training programme for Law enforcers at Sangai Hotel, Imphal.
Somorjit further said that smoking in public place and advertising tobacco based products are punishable acts. Violation of COTPA is liable for penalties.
He mentioned that National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) was launched in the year 2007-08 but was enacted in 2010 in Manipur. For effective implementation, a State Level Coordination Committee has been formed with Chief Secretary as its Chairman. For its good enforcement, staffs are formed at State, District and Block level.

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