KATHMANDU

The decision of Kathmandu Municipal Corporation (KMC) to put a complete ban on the storage, sale, distribution, and consumption of tobacco products comes into effect today.

Earlier, the KMC had put out a 15-day public notice on November 28 announcing the decision. The consumption, sale, and storage of all types of tobacco products, including raw tobacco and gutkha, have been banned, said KMC spokesperson Naveen Manandhar.

The decision comes into effect as per the provisions of the Tobacco Control and Regulation Act, 2068 BS. The KMC is mobilizing municipal police, including those in plain clothes, to monitor the enforcement of the decision. ‘If tobacco products are found in any shop during the monitoring, action will be taken to confiscate them up to two times and close the shop if found for the third time,’ said Manandhar.

Meanwhile, the KMC has also requested that citizens use the KMC Police Force’s hotline, 18105000060, or telephone numbers, 01-5901763 and 01-5901764, to inform them about the violation of the decision.