Amritsar: Cigarette, tobacco kiosks removed from Walled City

Punjab: Nearly two and a half months after the Punjab government declared the Walled City area a “holy city,” the Municipal Corporation has launched a crackdown against cigarette and tobacco kiosks operating in the area. Acting on the instructions of Municipal Commissioner Bikramjit Singh Shergill, civic teams removed four kiosks on Saturday and confiscated the goods, which were later deposited in the Municipal Corporation’s storeroom in Bhagatanwala. Officials also issued a stern warning to the kiosks, warning them of strict action if they re-established their stalls in the same locations. The drive was carried out in areas such as Hall Gate, Machhli Mandi, and Rambagh, where numerous cigarette and tobacco kiosks were operating.
The Municipal Commissioner directed officials to issue notices to other operators on Monday, asking them to voluntarily remove their kiosks. If the kiosks are not removed within the stipulated time, the Municipal Corporation will launch a special enforcement drive and confiscate the goods. It’s worth noting that on December 15th, the Punjab government issued an order requiring meat shops and cigarette and tobacco kiosks to be removed from the Walled City area. Previously, a survey by the Municipal Corporation’s Estate Department found 107 cigarette and tobacco kiosks and 34 raw meat shops operating in the Walled City. However, no liquor shops or drinking establishments were found during the survey. The department was also unable to collect data on cooked meat shops.