Examine effect of hookah on indoor air pollution: NGT to govt
New Delhi, Jan 17 (PTI) The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Ministry of Environment and Forests Thursday to examine the effect of hookah in respect of indoor air pollution and prescribe appropriate standards on the issue.
A bench headed by Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore, however, said that it lacked jurisdiction to restrain the use of hookah in restaurants and bars in the city.
“The tribunal would like to recommend/suggest the Ministry of Environment and Forests to look into and examine the effect of hookah in respect of indoor air pollution. In case the view is affirmative, then they hould come out and prescribe appropriate standards for it so that the issue can be dealt with in case of violation of standards,” the bench said.
Referring to a Delhi High Court order, the tribunal said hookah is covered under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Acts (COTPA) which does not come under the jurisdiction of the tribunal.
The tribunal’s direction came while disposing a plea filed by Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the BJP MLA from Rajouri Garden assembly constituency in Delhi, seeking immediate ban on hookah bars in the national capital.
KV Online
