Himachal Pradesh Voluntary Health Association (HPVHA) - an NGO working to make the state tobacco-free, has come out strongly against state government’s plan to allow beedi and cigarette units to set up base in Hamirpur district. The organisation has alleged that the move will completely jeopardise the drive to discourage smoking and avoid its adverse affects on the health of the people and the environment . “This is completely unacceptable as the government itself claims to have extended its full support to create a tobacco free society but on the other, it has allowed the tobacco industry to flourish,” said HPVHA president P R Ramesh. A retired IAS officer S N Joshi, who is actively associated with the anti-tobacco campaign believes that such a decision will neutralise all the progress made in the past few years . Speaking to the media here, Ramesh said the organisation was exploring possibilities like seeking the intervention of courts, if the state government does not impose checks on the industry. He also announced plan to make Himachal Pradesh a smoke-free state.