New Delhi: West Bengal has begun imposing fines on people caught spitting on roads or littering in public places as part of a new cleanliness drive across
the state.
Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Pal said the initiative, which began on Tuesday, is aimed at improving civic behaviour and making cities cleaner rather than generating revenue through penalties.
Under the new drive, spitting in public places will attract a fine of Rs 100. Throwing garbage or creating filth in public spaces will result in a Rs 200 penalty. The same fine will apply to open urination, open defecation and the use of single-use plastic carry bags below 125 microns.
Government says fines are not about making money
Pal said the fines have been kept low deliberately and should not be seen as a revenue-generation exercise.
“Rather than imposing strictness to collect money through fines, our objective is to make people aware. We do not intend to take money from people by imposing fines,” she told reporters.
She said the government wanted Kolkata and other cities across West Bengal to become cleaner, but stressed that penalties alone could not bring lasting change.
“It is not possible for the government alone to keep a city clean. Unless it comes from people’s hearts, this cannot be achieved by a whip, a stick or fines,” the minister said.
She also appealed to commuters to think before throwing waste from vehicles or spitting in public places.
Dustbins and toilets still being arranged
The government has admitted that it is still working on the infrastructure needed for stricter enforcement. Pal said dustbins were being installed, particularly near markets and railway stations, while more public toilets were also being planned.
“We know that we are not fully prepared yet,” she said, adding that the work to improve facilities would continue alongside the enforcement drive.
The government is also arranging alternatives to banned plastic bags. Vending machines in market areas will offer corn-based bags for Rs 1, while cloth bags will be available for Rs 5 to Rs 10.
Focus on changing public behaviour
The government hopes the fines will make people think twice before littering, spitting or dumping waste in public places. However, the real test will be how effectively the rules are enforced in busy markets, transport hubs and city roads.
For households, the government plans to encourage waste segregation instead of placing dustbins inside residential areas. Residents will be asked to separate their waste and hand it over to sanitation workers.
