Only cops can stub hookah

Mumbai: While the calls for banning hookah parlours are getting louder in the backdrop of the Kamala Mill fire last month that took 14 lives, the state government’s new notification has put the Brihanmum-bai Municipal Corpo-ration (BMC) in a fix. It will only allow hookah parlours to operate in the city, said civic officials.

According to the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regu-lation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, which came into effect on December 20 last year, the timings of opening and closing the establishments have been changed. The 2017 Act replaces the Maharashtra Shops and Establishment Act of 1948.

Accordingly, the timings of beer bars, permit rooms, hookah parlours and disco theques, where liquor is served, will be from 11.30 am to 1.30 am in the midnight. “Based on the state government’s notification, the BMC has issued a circular notifying hookah parlours about change in their timings. As far as ban is concerned, we cannot take action on hookah parlours. The onus of taking action lies with the police,” said a top civic official.

After the Kamala Mill fire mishap, which was found to be caused by the use of hookah, there was demand from all quarters to ban hookah parlours in the city.

Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar too had taken initiative in this regard by meeting police commissioner and asking him to support the BMC in banning such parlours.

Dr Padmaja Keskar, BMC’s executive health officer, said, “As per Supreme Court directives, the hookah parlours are allowed in smoking zones of eating houses and civic body cannot take action against them. The

BMC does not issue license for hookah parlours too. The Cigarette and other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) comes under the jurisdiction of police. In case of violation about hookah parlours, we inform police asking to take action against them.”