The Rangoon municipality has imposed a ban on smoking and chewing betel leaves around the platform of the famous Shwedagon Pagoda as part of hygiene. It is also an image building exercise.
The Rangoon municipality has imposed a ban on smoking and chewing betel leaves around the platform of the famous Shwedagon Pagoda as part of hygiene. It is also an image building exercise.
The order, which will take effect from July 29, is the first of its kind to maintain discipline and hygiene by the municipality in a place of worship, Rangoon residents said.
"Smoking and chewing betel leaves in the pagoda is bad for it dirties the sacred place where people go for worship. Banning such habits is good for maintaining discipline in the pagoda," a Rangoon resident, who frequents the pagoda for prayers, told Mizzima.
Welcoming the announcement he added that despite providing dustbins, indisciplined smokers and those in the habit of chewing betel leaves frequently litter the areas around the pagoda's platforms.
The order has earmarked the platform around the world famous Shwedagon pagoda as tobacco and betel-free zone, and those flouting the ban will be liable to pay a penalty of Kyat 10,700 (approximately US $ 8), the resident added.
Earlier the Rangoon municipality had earmarked certain public places such as bus terminus, railway stations, airports, hospitals and schools as tobacco and betel-free zones, imposing a penalty of Kyat 10,700 (US $ 8) in the event of violation.
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