The State Government is formulating a policy to ban hookah bars across Karnataka, found more in numbers in Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Mangaluru.
Following a statement by Home Minister Araga Jnanendra in February 2022 that the Government is mulling over a ban, city corporations that are the licensing authorities in the cities have been tasked to come up with a policy to ban the same.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has commissioned a study by health and legal experts to formulate the policy for the ban. “We are awaiting the report by the experts since we need to consider all legal repercussions before finalising the policy. Based on the report, we will take suitable action soon,” K.V. Trilok Chandra, Special Commissioner (Health), BBMP.