Chandigarh, March 19: The captain Amarinder Singh government in Punjab, in a cabinet meeting of ministers has decided to impose total ban on hookah bars across Punjab. The decision came after a state cabinet meeting, which was chaired by the Chief Minister. The cabinet agreed to pass an amendment to the existing Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COPTA 2003). According to reports, the step to ban Hookah bars is an attempt to reduce the growing habit of visiting hookah parlours among youth and spreading of diseases due to smoking.

An official spokesperson of the party informed that the amendment would bring a total ban on the running and operating of Hookah bars in the state. The amendment proposed will now be placed before the Vidhan Sabha and if passed by the house, will have to be approved by the President of India.

The media advisor to Punjab CM Captain Amarinder, in a series of tweets informed all about the ban and the reasons for it:

The cabinet meeting was conducted before the beginning of the Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha:

The CM has also ordered SDM probe into blast in colony near Lakkar Mandi, Patiala. The spokesperson said that the government has also announced ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh each to next of kin of the two killed in explosion, besides Rs 25000 each with free treatment for the injured.

There were several other decisions taken by the cabinet like paving way for MBBS doctors in Punjab to get full pay with allowances during probation period, bill approved for regularisation of illegal colonies developed before March 19,2018.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 19, 2018 05:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).