Over 1.2k Pune citizens fined in 2023 for spitting in public spaces 

The Pune municipal corporation fined 1,248 citizens a total of Rs 12.48 lakh in 2023 for spitting on the road. When the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) arrested 431 people in January 2023, the number of cases recorded was at its highest.

To just 61 cases in February, there was a sharp decline. Between 30 and 200 people received fines annually on average. Activists believe that the PMC ought to act consistently in this regard. According to them, the surge in activity occurs before major occasions like the G20.

A special drive was conducted in advance of the January 2023 G20 summit, according to PMC data. In three days, the municipal government filed complaints against 123 individuals. Prior to the summit, which concluded on January 17, 2023, a fine of Rs 1.23 lakh was gathered.

An activist claimed that prior to the event, the flying squads are dispatched to different locations with specific targets. But after the incident, everything is back to normal.

According to a senior PMC official, conducting drives throughout civic areas is hampered by a lack of personnel.

Another PMC official stated that the administration aims to make public spaces cleaner. The city is making an effort to perform better in the Swachh rankings.