Jammu: The sale, possession and consumption of cigarettes and other tobacco products has been banned by the Jammu administration in Katra town, which is home to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, officials said.
Reasi District Magistrate Vishesh Mahajan said the initiative, launched on World No Tobacco Day, aims to maintain the sanctity of the religious place where lakhs of pilgrims visit every year.
The administration has already banned the sale, possession and consumption of meat and liquor in Katra and surrounding areas.
Mahajan told reporters, “Under Section 144, we have banned the storage, sale and consumption of cigarettes, gutkha and other types of tobacco in the area from Numai and Panthal check posts to Bhawan via Tara Court track. " Saturday.
"This ban is an extension of the existing ban on sale and consumption of liquor and meat," he said.
Mahajan said the move is aimed at keeping Katra Base Camp, the track and the entire area tobacco free.
Katra is visited by 30,000-40,000 pilgrims every day.
Reasi District Magistrate Vishesh Mahajan said the initiative, launched on World No Tobacco Day, aims to maintain the sanctity of the religious place where lakhs of pilgrims visit every year.
The administration has already banned the sale, possession and consumption of meat and liquor in Katra and surrounding areas.
Mahajan told reporters, “Under Section 144, we have banned the storage, sale and consumption of cigarettes, gutkha and other types of tobacco in the area from Numai and Panthal check posts to Bhawan via Tara Court track. " Saturday.
"This ban is an extension of the existing ban on sale and consumption of liquor and meat," he said.
Mahajan said the move is aimed at keeping Katra Base Camp, the track and the entire area tobacco free.
Katra is visited by 30,000-40,000 pilgrims every day.
