Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Tiswadi Taluka Enforcement Squad booked six cases against casino operators in Panaji for violations of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) during an enforcement drive conducted on July 27.
The squad was led by Joint Mamlatdar-I Sanjeev Signapurkar and comprised Tax Inspector Madhuri Silimcano, Talathi Kedar Bhandari, UHC Panaji Sanitary Inspector Kishore Arondekar, GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins, and Panaji Police personnel HC Satish Maje and PC M. Naik.
During the inspection, the squad issued six challans and recovered fines amounting to ₹1,200 for violations of Section 4 of the COTPA.
Officials found that none of the inspected casino operators had displayed the mandatory ‘No Smoking’ signage at their reception areas, as required under the law.
The enforcement team informed representatives of the casino operators that tourists visiting casinos must be made aware of the provisions of the COTPA and the consequences of violating the anti-smoking regulations.
A report on the findings of the enforcement drive will be submitted to District Collector Ankit Yadav and Director of Tourism Kedar Naik for further action.
