Bengal’s cleanliness crackdown begins: Check new fines for spitting, littering

Kolkata: West Bengal has begun a new cleanliness crackdown aimed at curbing public spitting, littering and other unhygienic practices.

For citizens across the state, the message being displayed on public walls and market gates is clear: change the habit or pay a fine.

The initiative focuses on discouraging people from throwing waste in public places and spitting on roads, walls and other common areas. Authorities are expected to increase enforcement in areas where littering and public spitting remain common.

The move comes as civic authorities step up efforts to improve cleanliness in public spaces and encourage residents to take greater responsibility for maintaining their surroundings.

Officials and local bodies are using fines as a deterrent against behaviour that contributes to dirty streets, public walls and crowded marketplaces. The campaign also seeks to create greater awareness about the importance of proper waste disposal.

Public places such as markets, roads and busy neighbourhoods are likely to remain a key focus of the cleanliness drive. Notices informing residents about the penalties are being put up at prominent locations.

The crackdown is aimed not only at collecting fines but also at changing everyday habits. Authorities hope that stricter enforcement, combined with public awareness, will encourage people to use designated waste-disposal facilities and avoid spitting in public.

Citizens have been urged to cooperate with the cleanliness campaign and help keep public spaces free from litter and other forms of pollution.