The government was asked for a list of restaurants in the city that permit smoking hookah on their premisesmore-inThe National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday rapped the Delhi government for not providing a list of restaurants in the Capital that permit smoking hookah on their premises. The green panel also imposed a cost of ₹50,000 on the government and directed the authorities to submit a report within 10 days. Ban soughtA Bench headed by NGT Acting Chairperson Jawad Rahim passed the directions while hearing a plea by BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who had sought immediate ban on hookah bars operating in the city. The green panel pulled up the Aam Aadmi Party government for failing to submit the data after the counsel appearing for the petitioner alleged that the government had not carried out any searches. “Despite launch of a campaign in the country to contain use of tobacco and ban on hookah bars, most hookah bars in Delhi are running on restaurant licences illegally and selling products that are harmful for the youth” the plea added.

Source: The Hindu April 10, 2018 20:01 UTC