Pay fine for spitting in CP

The next time you are caught spitting in Connaught Place, you may have to shell out a fine of Rs 100.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has launched an “anti-spitting” drive, as a part of the Swachh Bharat campaign. But its success seems to be under shadow due to limited resources and poor planning.

This initiative comes in addition to the council’s online campaign “Ho Ho Shame Shame”. Pictures of citizens spitting or urinating in public were uploaded on Facebook as a part of this campaign.

“Citizens found spitting will be fined an amount of Rs 100,” said a NDMC senior official.
But only four marshals – empowered to fine people for littering and spitting – have been deputed in Connaught Place. And it remains doubtful if that is an adequate number to do the job.

“Besides marshals, we will also monitor through CCTV if citizens are spitting. The fines should act as a deterrent. A person will feel the pinch once he pays a fine 10 times,” said Meenakshi Lekhi, MP and an NDMC member.

“It is appalling how some corners of Connaught Place are being used by citizens to just spit,” she added.

During the launch of the campaign, NDMC members cleaned stained pillars in the market area.

In addition to the fines, there will be spittoons, stickers to sensitise people against spitting.

“The drive has a good purpose. Even though the fines aim to deter people from spitting, it is doubtful if it will effectively stop people from spitting,” said Atul Bhargav, President, New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA).

The earlier online campaign lost momentum after a point with few pictures being uploaded after the initial few weeks. The NDMC initially thought it would be a “novel” initiative to shame repeat offenders by uploading such pictures. However, later it had to blur the faces of offenders to avoid misuse of the pictures.