By IANS
Chandigarh : As many as 764 people were fined here for violating the recent ban on smoking in public places.
Chandigarh was declared India's first smoke-free city July 15 with the local administration banning smoking at all public places including markets, bus stands, hotels, restaurants and open areas visited by people.
A spokesman of the Chandigarh administration said that 764 people, who were found violating the ban, were fined till Thursday evening. They were charged a penalty of Rs.200 for the first offence.
The maximum number of people were fined in the city's commercial hub – Sector 17. Over 100 people were charged in this area.
Other areas where smokers were booked are Sector 26 (100), Industrial Area (93) and Mani Majra (86).
The spokesman said that more offenders would be fined to enforce the ban comprehensively. He added that police officials, above the rank of sub-inspectors, and others have been given the power to book people violating the smoking ban.
However, at certain places, including Sector 17, smokers argued with the enforcement officials that there were not enough signboards to tell them that smoking was banned at public places.