All Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation hotels will have separate ventilated rooms or areas for smoking.

Principal secretary, tourism department, Deepak Kumar on Thursday said instructions regarding the same have been issued and work was expected to start shortly.

The decision comes a day after the state health department called for a high-level consultation programme for effective implementation of tobacco-control measures in the state. The meeting, which was chaired by chief secretary A.K. Sinha, also sought participation and help of other departments in the effort.

“The department is taking steps aimed at controlling the use of smoking in public places. All BSTDC hotels will be smoke-free soon. They have been instructed to form a properly ventilated smoking zone or room. Right now, we cannot fix any timeframe for its completion because the planning needs space and area. However, the department is serious towards the same and BSTDC hotels will be smoke-free,” Deepak Kumar said.

Earlier, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said the state government would ask hotels and restaurants to prohibit smoking on their premises and that the government was preparing to fine them if they didn’t abide by it.

However, the state government hasn’t come out with any concrete announcement regarding the same till now.