Goa, July 24 -- In a recent enforcement drive by the Goa Anti-Tobacco Cell (GOACAN) in Vasco, serious violations of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, were uncovered at key public locations, including the Vasco Post Office and Vasco Railway Station. The GOACAN team found that both sites lacked the mandatory "No Smoking" signage required under Section 4 of COTPA, which prohibits smoking in public spaces and mandates prominent display of warning signs.

This absence of basic legal compliance raises questions about the accountability of central government agencies. GOACAN Convener Roland Martins expressed concern over the negligence, stating that government-run institutions are failing to uphold the law and, in doin...