MUSCAT: Come April 2, people caught smoking in no-smoking zones will have to shell out between RO100 and RO300 as Muscat Municipality begins to clamp down on violators.

Owners of places, where the smoking ban is enforced, will not only be fined between RO100 and RO300 but also face the prospect of their establishments being closed for three to seven days.

The ban, under rule 2010/33, will be enforced at all public places falling under the jurisdiction of Muscat Municipality Qais bin Sulaiman Al Kusheri, manager, health department, said no-smoking zones have been identified and their owners directed to follow instructions strictly.

Owners of no-smoking zones have been asked to prominently display signboards (in Arabic and English) to this effect; they have been directed to remove ashtrays.