Amritsar also should be smoke free

AMRITSAR: Amritsar Vikas Manch has demanded to make Amritsar India’s Second smoke-free city.




In a letter to Chief Minister S. Parkash Singh Badal, Manch President Er. Harbhajan Singh Gill stated that the Chandigarh has been declared smoke free by July 1, 2007. Now Chandigarh will have designated smoking areas at all public places and buildings to ensure that smoking is restricted and the general public is not forced to passively inhale smoke. Amritsar deserves this status because this is the holy city and known as Mecca of the Sikhs where Shri Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh scripture) was compiled. Teachings of this holy Sikh scripture debar the person from smoking. Keeping the importance of the holy city smoking and meat shops was banned around the 200-meter periphery of the Golden Temple in 1982 by the then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi.
Besides protecting children and other citizens from the harmful consequences of tobacco and smoking, such an initiative will improve the global image of the Amritsar and will be helpful in promoting transport, tourism and business.  Copy of the letter has been sent to S. Bikram Singh Majithia, Sanitation & Public relation minister, Smt. Laxmi Kanta Chawla Health & Family Welfare minister and deputy commissioner Amritsar S. Kahan Singh Pannu.