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West Bengal imposes fine on spitting, public urination

Published : Wednesday, 2 September, 2026 at 11:03 AM

Observer Online Report

Collected Photo

West Bengal state government has introduced a fine system to curb habits like public spitting, urination, defecation, and littering.

Open defecation remains a notable challenge across various regions in India. Joint data from WHO, UNICEF, and the World Bank show that around 6.7 to 11 per cent of people in India still defecate in the open, with rates significantly higher in rural areas.

Against this backdrop, the state government enforced the new penalty rules on Tuesday to clean up cities and drive behavioral change among citizens.

Under the new regulations, spitting on roads will attract a fine of 100 rupees. Public urination, defecation, or littering will incur a penalty of 200 rupees. Moreover, using single-use plastic bags thinner than 125 microns will also attract a 200-rupee fine.

Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul stated that raising awareness and fostering civic responsibility take priority over collecting fines.

She emphasized that transforming Kolkata and other urban centers into cleaner cities requires active public cooperation alongside government efforts.

The minister urged individuals to stop throwing trash out of car windows or spitting from buses. She noted that genuine behavioral shift must come from within rather than through periodic awareness campaigns, expecting visible changes within a year.

Authorities acknowledge that adequate public toilets and trash bins are not fully in place across all areas yet. Bins and public amenities are currently being installed near busy markets and railway stations.

Minister Paul clarified that residential areas will not have municipal bins; instead, residents are encouraged to segregate waste into dual bags for sanitation workers.

To phase out illegal plastic bags, the government plans to install vending machines in markets offering cornstarch bags for one rupee each and cloth bags for 5 to 10 rupees.

Though West Bengal already had laws against public spitting and littering - including provisions for fines up to 1,000 rupees under the amended Municipal Act of 2019 - enforcement faced persistent hurdles. Strict execution of the fresh drive remains to be seen.

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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