Mysore/Mysuru: Despite posing a great health risk to teens and youth and the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) taking action in the past on many hookah bars by seizing equipment, many of them thrive clandestinely and operate in some cafes and hotels.

This issue was raised at the MCC’s Council meeting yesterday where it was decided to ban all hookah bars. Former Mayor Ayub Khan raised the issue and said a few hookah parlours operate as part of restaurants and coffee cafes while some are standalone.

“These parlours primarily target college-goers and there are many instances where students bunk classes and sit in the hookah bars splurging money on flavours offered there and at the same time risking their health,” he said.

Once addicted to the hookah bars, the students take to tobacco and then consume drugs. “These bars are spoiling the health of the society and must be banned. Gambling, hookah bars, drug consumption and drug peddling and illegal arms are all interconnected. Action at the ground level and strong laws are needed to control it,” he added.

He alleged that the Police and the MCC officials were silent on many hookah bars functioning with their full knowledge and sought information from the officers on the number of hookah bars operating in Mysuru city.

Corporators Prema Shankaregowda, former Mayor Arif Hussain and Shivakumar of the ruling party demanded a blanket ban on hookah bars. Mayor Sunanda Palanetra announced that the MCC will take steps to ban all hookah bars under its jurisdiction.