Spit in public, pay Rs 250, Varanasi draws the line

Spitting or littering in the holy city of Varanasi could now cost you dearly. The Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) has begun enforcing stricter penalties under the Uttar Pradesh Solid Waste Management and Sanitation Rules 2021 , aiming to make the Prime Minister’s parliamentary constituency cleaner and more disciplined.

Under the new regulations, anyone caught spitting in public will be fined Rs 250 , while throwing litter or spitting from vehicles will draw a heavier penalty of Rs 1,000 . The rule also applies to those who leave food for stray animals on roads , which will attract a Rs 250 fine.

According to VMC Public Relations Officer Sandeep Srivastava , individuals who keep garbage at home for more than 24 hours or litter open areas such as parks, roads, or dividers will face a fine of Rs 500 . Pet owners failing to clean up after their animals in public places will be charged Rs 500 , and those dumping waste or animal remains into rivers, drains, or sewers will be fined Rs 750 .

The rules also cover improper garbage transport. Using uncovered trucks or damaging municipal property like bins or vehicles will invite a Rs 2,000 penalty , while the highest fine of Rs 5,000 will be imposed for allowing water stagnation or creating any unsanitary conditions that may pose health risks.

The Varanasi Municipal Corporation will oversee implementation through its sanitation inspectors, health officers, and enforcement teams , who are authorized to monitor violations, issue challans, and collect fines on the spot . In cases of non-compliance, municipal squads may also seek help from local police .

Officials said the new fines are part of an ongoing effort to improve sanitation, discourage public spitting, and reduce open dumping in Varanasi. The initiative supports the broader goal of enhancing hygiene and civic responsibility in one of India’s most visited cities.

Similar rules already exist in several Indian states. Karnataka, Bihar, Uttarakhand, and Gujarat have introduced fines for public spitting, some as high as Rs 1,000, while Maharashtra’s civic bodies collected lakhs in penalties during COVID-related drives. However, their effectiveness remains mixed . In Pune, for instance, spitting cases declined from 223 in January to 65 in May this year, but experts say that overall enforcement remains inconsistent. In cities like Nagpur, where over 39,000 cases were recorded in four years, activists argue that the drop in numbers often reflects weaker monitoring rather than behavioural change.

Public health experts believe that fines alone cannot change civic habits . They call for stronger surveillance, public awareness campaigns, and civic education to make such measures sustainable.

However, enforcement alone may not be enough. In a country where basic civic sense remains weak , public cooperation is crucial. Despite repeated awareness drives, spitting, littering, and open dumping continue to be common habits. Experts say all states should introduce similar or stricter sanitation rules , with stronger on-ground monitoring to ensure visible results. Lasting change, they say, will come only when cleanliness becomes a social habit, not just a legal compulsion.