Updated on Friday, May 29, 2009, 21:28 IST

New Delhi, May 29: The Delhi government on Friday said it is committed to make Delhi a smoke-free city well before commencement of Commonwealth Games next year.

Delhi's Health and Family Welfare Minister Kiran Walia said 76 government departments have identified Nodal Officers and they are being trained to ensure compliance of prohibition of smoking laws.

She said the government has formed eight raiding squads to stop smoking in public places in Delhi.

"These squads have conducted raids on 15,033 public places and have fined 10,456 persons," she said addressing a function here. Walia added that 432 vendors were fined and a total amount of Rs 10,73,743 has been fined from violators.

Walia was speaking while releasing a short-film on "Tobacco: Threat to life and development".

Releasing the film, she said that tobacco health warnings will be strictly implemented in Delhi on packages of tobacco products.

Packaging industries will also be warned to follow the guidelines, which will come into force by May 31.

"We are committed to make Delhi a smoke-free by the end of 2009. It means nobody will be allowed to smoke in the public places as prohibited by law.

Bureau Report