Spit, And Be Ready To Cough Up Rs 5000 As Fine In Uttarakhand

Two days after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath banned  use of 'paan' and 'gutkha' in government offices, Uttarakhand  CM Trivendra Singh Rawat's government has also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 or a jail term up to 6 months for people  found spitting on office premises or other public places.

The new rule  will come  into force by all municipal corporations in the state under the Anti-Littering Law passed in November, informed Urban development department officials, reported The Times of India.

Speaking to the newspaper,  Arvind Singh Hyanki , Secretary, urban development, said, "We have been directed to strictly enforce the Act, which was passed around five months back. As of now, it is being enforced in urban areas only. Enforcement in rural areas is solely the discretion of the government. We will ensure that people do not litter public places."

Several teams comprising of workers, supervisors and sanitation inspectors have been formed in the city to conduct regular checks across the city every day, Dehradun health officer informed, adding that 'challan' booklet to fine offenders will be issued on the spot. Habitual offenders will face legal action.

A few days ago, UP CM Yogi Adityanath was visibly put off when he saw betel-juice stained walls of the building which is known as Lal Bahadur Shastri Bhawan and houses the chief minister’s office and his secretariat, offices of the state chief secretary, principal secretary (home) and other senior IAS officers.

Subsequently, he  directed officials to enforce a ban on the use of pan and tobacco in schools, colleges, government hospitals and hospitals. He also prohibited the use of plastic in government offices.

Last year, the Union health ministry had asked states to enforce ban on manufacture as well as sale of pan masala containing nicotine or tobacco irrespective of whether it is available as one product or sold by mixing with other ingredients.