Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has announced that smoking and other forms of tobacco consumption in public places will be banned from tomorrow.

The 11th session of the municipal assembly of KMC has banned tobacco consumption in all public places around the city and the policy will come into immediate effect from 17th September.

Common tobacco products like cigarettes, bidis, and cigars are among others that are restricted to be consumed in public areas, in view of public health considerations.

Those who defy the rule will be charged under the Tobacco Products (Control and Regulatory) Act, 2068, according to the KMC director and information officer, Basanta Acharya. The Act has a provision to slap a fine of Rs100 to Rs100,000 to the offenders to defy the rule.

In 2019 March, KMC had announced a similar restriction on tobacco consumption in public spaces under former Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya but it wasn’t effectively implemented.