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The West Bengal government has implemented fines for various offenses, including public spitting, littering, and public urination in open spaces, to ensure cleanliness in urban areas. Collection of fines under these new regulations began on Tuesday.
Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul stated that the objective of this initiative is not to increase government revenue, but rather to bring about a change in citizens’ behavior and make cities cleaner.
According to the new rules, a fine of ₹100 will be imposed for public spitting. For littering in open spaces, public defecation or urination, and using single-use plastic bags less than 125 microns thick, the fine has been set at ₹200.
However, the minister acknowledged that while the fines have been implemented, the necessary infrastructure for cleanliness is not yet fully prepared. He reiterated that collecting money through fines is not the government’s goal; the primary objective is to raise citizen awareness.
Stating that the government alone cannot keep cities clean, he urged citizens to reflect before littering or spitting from bus or car windows.
Initiatives are also underway to install vending machines at various locations as alternatives to plastic. These machines will offer corn-based bags for ₹1 and cloth bags for ₹5 to ₹10. Furthermore, emphasis is being placed on segregating household waste before handing it over to sanitation workers.
Previously, the amended Municipal Act of 2019 had provisions for a maximum fine of ₹1,000 for public spitting and ₹50 to ₹5,000 for illegal waste disposal in Kolkata.
Source: India Today