A delegation from the University will reach the Capital early next month to study nicotine levels in existing buildings in Delhi. The idea, Delhi Health minister Yoganand Shastri said, is to help the department check places of violation as per the Central Tobacco Act. “This will help us zero in on buildings where the Act is violated,” Shastri.

According to Health department officials, the study will be carried out over the next six months. The experts from John Hopkins would provide their services for free, an official said. “The minister had gone there (US) some three months ago, and it was decided then that they (university) would help the city in-principle.”

The department had recently also joined hands with Bloomberg Global Initiative, a project launched with funds from New York Mayor Michael R Bloomberg, who has pledged $125 million to eradicate smoking worldwide.

Officials from Bloomberg had held sessions with experts here. “They will bring the funds and technical know-how,” the Health official said.

In India, Chandigarh is the only smoke-free city. The Union Territory has banned smoking in public places, including government and public buildings, schools, hospitals, public transport, private workplaces, and even bars and restaurants. Delhi does have an Act to check smoking but implementation has been inadequate so far.

The initiative to make Delhi a no-smoking zone gained momentum in September 2007, after Shastri attended an international conference on anti-tobacco measures in Edinburgh, Scotland. A senior health official said: “The minister realised the potential of tying up with Bloomberg at this conference. A joint plan of action is being drawn up to make smoking really difficult in Delhi.”

Experts say city authorities will have to create and enforce 100 per cent smoking-free environment in enclosed workplaces and public places within the jurisdiction of the government to effectively ban the butt.