New digital-only penalties target waste and public urination in urban West Bengal

Effective from 6 a.m. on Tuesday, urban areas of West Bengal have introduced a strictly digital fine framework aimed at curbing spitting, littering and public urination. The initiative follows a two‑month awareness campaign led by the state's Municipal and Urban Development Ministry.

Minister Agnimitra Paul stressed that the deadline for compliance will not be extended, as citizens have already been briefed on the consequences of violating hygiene norms. The fine structure is simple: Rs 100 for spitting in any public place and Rs 200 for littering, using prohibited plastic bags or urinating in streets, markets, hospitals and other communal zones.

Cash transactions are barred; offenders must settle their dues through electronic payment methods. In parallel, the government is rigorously enforcing the ban on single‑use plastic items thinner than 120 microns and has instructed shopkeepers to keep their premises free of waste that could spill onto sidewalks.

All municipal bodies, notified areas and district magistrates have received the official circular, ensuring that the rule is applied uniformly across the state. Surveillance will be intensified in sewers, water bodies, educational campuses, religious establishments and government buildings to maintain a clean and safe public environment.