Pune: Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is stepping up its efforts to combat public defacement and enforce sanitation norms, with a particular focus on deterring spitting in public places. Since the beginning of 2025, PMC has penalized 549 individuals, collecting a total of Rs5.5 lakh in fines. While there was a slight increase in April, the overall trend shows a decline in reported cases since Jan. In Jan, 223 cases were registered, dropping to 118 in Feb. Since March, the number of cases has remained in the double digits — 69 in March, 74 in April, and 65 in May. The fine for each offence is Rs1,000.PMC has added 10 new vehicles to its flying squads. These squads will now be better equipped to catch offenders violating solid waste management guidelines, including those spitting, using banned plastic, burning garbage, and littering. Previously, squad vehicles were shared across multiple ward offices, but with this addition, each of the 15 ward offices will now have a dedicated vehicle for robust enforcement.Anand Kulkarni, a medical practitioner from Hadapsar, said surveillance can effectively deter public nuisances. “Civic authorities should monitor busy areas through the existing CCTV network. The civic body should alert citizens through digital displays and public announcement systems about maintaining cleanliness. Local police and civic officials can coordinate efforts using mobile applications to report violations swiftly,” he said.Shantanu Gosavi, a resident of Kothrud, said, “Regular patrolling teams should be equipped with devices to record evidence of violations. Installing motion sensors and smart bins in sensitive areas can help track waste disposal patterns. The collected data can identify hotspots requiring increased vigilance.”The fine ranges from Rs200 to Rs1,000 per offence. “The civic administration created a lot of awareness about public sanitation. Action was taken across civic areas, and the drive will continue in the days to come,” head of PMC’s solid waste department Sandip Kadam said.
