There could be surprise checks in restaurants and hotels with lenient managers being penalised. “The legal issues have been looked into and the minister will soon make an announcement,” the official added. The Government is also planning to increase the fine on offenders to Rs 5,000.

As of now, only Chandigarh can be considered a smoke-free city, while New Delhi and Chennai are likely to follow in its footsteps.

Recently, the minister had recommended the formulation of a comprehensive Tobacco Control Policy and its effective implementation.

Smoky future

• According to a nationally representative case study, smoking will kill 10 lakh people in the country annually from 2010.

• Consumption of tobacco in any form will be the primary cause behind one in five of all male deaths and one in 20 of all female deaths

• Nearly 70 per cent of these one million deaths — seven lakh people — will die young and in their prime.

• Over half of the tobacco deaths will occur in illiterate men or women, with 80 per cent of them residing in rural India.

• While men who smoke cigarettes will lose over 10 years of life, those who smoke bidis will lose about six years.

• Women bidi smokers, on the other hand, will lose eight years of their productive life.