Civic body to ban sale of tobacco and pan masala products nearby school hostels

KOZHIKODE: City Corporation has decided to extend the ban on sale of tobacco and pan masala products in the surrounding areas of school hostels in its limit. The civic body has directed the health inspectors in the respective health circles to take stern actions against shop owners who have been found to be selling tobacco and pan masala products in the jurisdictions of school hostels too.
The health standing committee chairman has directed all the health inspectors to cover the surrounding areas of school and college hostels falling under their jurisdictions to curb the sale of tobacco and pan masala products. The move aims at curbing the students from getting addictions to tobacco and pan masala products.
According to the corporation officials, the pre-metric hostels are there at East Hill, Elathur, near Azhakodi temple and it will also cover other hostels of the government schools and colleges and private education institutions.
Health standing committee chairman K V Baburaj said a direction was already given to the health inspectors to cover the in-and surrounding areas of the hostels during their routine drive. "The health inspectors have already asked to cover all hostels and the drive will be intensified in the coming days," he said.