BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has issued notices to 378 hotels, including hookah bars, and plans to impose penalty of Rs 1 lakh each for not following smoking zone rules in the city.
The BBMP had implemented the smoking zone rule to prevent smoking in public places, especially in hotels and hookah bars. The rules also mandate that hotels and restaurants with more than 30 seats must have a smoking zone. After a survey, the BBMP found that many hotels are not following the rules and has issued a notice to 378 hotels and restaurants in the city for not creating smoking zones.
The BBMP has warned hotels and hookah bars that have not implemented the smoking zone rules. More than 400 hotels were fined a total of Rs 1,10,680. The BBMP is also planning to ban hookah bars and taking doctors’ and environmental experts’ advice on the issue.
“We have sent notices to hotels and hookah bars in all the eight zones that do not have designated smoking zones. If they violate the rules, we will impose more than Rs 1 lakh as penalty”, said BBMP Special Commissioner Thrilok Chandra.