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New Delhi: Next time you spit in public in Bihar's capital Patna, you will have to cough up Rs 500. Not just that, you will also earn the notorious tag of ‘Nagar Shatru’ -- which means 'enemy of the city'.
The city is cracking down on spitting with fines and public shaming. Being branded 'Nagar Shatru' puts one in the city’s hall of shame, with photos and videos displayed on public screens for all to see.
Several people spit after consuming paan, gutka, or other tobacco products.
The initiative has been launched by Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC). Under it, teams have been formed in all six zones of the capital to take action against those who spit in public places.
Over 3,000 cameras have been installed at more than 400 locations in the city, and these cameras will be used to identify the 'Nagar Shatrus'.
Initially, the municipal team will collect a fine of Rs 500 from those caught spitting in public, and their photos and videos will also be displayed on Variable Message Display (VMD) screens installed across the city.
The 3,000 plus cameras in Patna are connected to the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), which monitors the entire city. Through this system, those who spit in public will be identified and branded as "Nagar Shatru".
Besides this, residents of the city can also report anyone littering or spitting in public by calling the municipal corporation’s toll-free number 155304.
The campaign was rolled out on the directions of the municipal commissioner-cum-managing director of Patna Smart City Limited, Yashpal Meena. Meena said spitting in public sullies the city, it has serious impact on the city’s cleanliness, visual appeal, and public health. He underlined that unchecked spitting on roads, flyovers, intersections, and other public spaces has turned many areas into “red spots”.
The commissioner asked the ICCC to identify offenders who spit or litter on roads and display their images on VMD screens as “Nagar Shatru”.
He added that those urinating in public will also face stringent action, and immediate fines imposed on them by PMC enforcement teams. Meena reportedly pointed out that in a recent drive, fines were collected from almost 250 people caught spitting inside the underground subway connecting the Multi-Modal Hub to Patna Junction.
Preventing people to spit in public would not only improve Patna’s cleanliness rankings but also go a long way in enhancing the overall appearance of the city, civic body officials say.
