Saying that 66 hookah bars have been shut across the state,the government on Wednesday claimed that Haryana has become the first hookah-bar free state in the country. While presiding over a state-level meeting of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),Commissioner of FDA Dr Rakesh Gupta said that all such bars functional in the state have been shut down. Raids were conducted at all hookah bars. Around 100 samples were taken,out of which,90 were found nicotine-positive. Cases have been filed in court against the owners of 22 such hookah bars, Gupta added. Besides hookah bars,Gupta also discussed the action taken by the Department against chemists indulging in unauthorised and illegal sale of banned medicines. More than 100 cases have been filed against the illegal sale of intoxicants and 50 chemists shops sealed in the last six months. While licences of 40 shops have been cancelled,four have been booked under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, he added. Stating that the government was committed to provide essential medicines at affordable price for the common man,Gupta said,Strict action will be taken against chemists found selling medicines above the MRP.
