NGT issues warrants against hookah bars in Delhi

The National Green Tribunal today issued bailable warrants against restaurants and bars in the city which permit hookah smoking within their premises for non-appearance despite notices being issued to them.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued warrants against around 25 hookah bars which were asked to file their response before it.
During the hearing, the green panel asked the authorities to strictly regulate these restaurants and bars and warned that it would order their closure in case of any environmental pollution.
The matter has been listed for final hearing on December 4.
Responding to the developments in the tribunal, BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who has filed a plea in NGT against hookah bars, said that it was tragic that the AAP government led by Arvind Kejriwal "was not ready to awake from deep slumber whereas thousands of city youth are becoming addicted to drugs due to hookah smoking which is far more dangerous than the smoking of cigarettes".

The NGT had on October 9 issued notices to the Ministry of Environment of Forests, the city government, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and various hookah bar owners and sought their reply.

Sirsa had contended that the ambient air quality standards in public places such as restaurants and bars were dangerously higher than the prescribed norms.
Referring to the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules 2008, the plea said these rules are being openly flouted by various restaurants and hookah bars in Delhi wherein hookah, as a tobacco product, is being permitted to be smoked in open spaces without designating any part of its premises as a smoking area.

"Direct MoEF to issue directions under Section 5 of the Environment Protection Act 1986 against such person or entities who have been polluting indoor ambient air in restaurants and bars and such other public places in Delhi by selling hookah or permitting hookah smoking in its premises," the plea had said.
Sirsa had earlier alleged that hookah bars were "ruining" the youth of Delhi by turning them into "drug addicts".
"Despite launch of a campaign in the country to contain use of tobacco and ban hookah bars, most hookah bars in Delhi are running on restaurant licences illegally and selling products that are harmful for the youth," he had earlier said.