Kolkata:
Hard days are ahead for those who are habitual criminals to spit to tobacco or paan masala chewing in public places in West Bengal, as a bill in the upcoming budget assembly session with provisions of a heavy financial penalty for such crimes. Will be introduced.
A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the West Bengal cabinet in State Secretariat Nabanna on Tuesday.
A member of the state cabinet said that the Chief Minister expressed pain over the increasing trend of spitting himself, chewing tobacco, Beton lead lieures or pan masala in public places.
“She was especially important for stains because the tendency to spit such a spit is often on the newly painted walls or pavements, obstructing the beautification efforts of the state government. It was decided to move the bill with the provisions of punishment, “the state cabinet member said.
Although the exact amount of fine is yet to be fixed, sources said that every time there will be a fine rate of Rs 1,000 for any such crime.
Already under the West Bengal Prevention of Spitting of Public Place Act, 2003, an Act, where the maximum fine for spit in public places has been fixed at Rs 200.
However, questions have often been raised about the practical appropriateness of the said Act and also aspect of its fear among habitual criminals due to the short penalty amount.
Probably, this is why the new bill proposes a fine amount by at least five teams. However, the question is how effective enforcement capacity by the concerned enforcement agencies will be in view of lack of manpower in each department.
This year the budget session of the state assembly will begin on 10 February with an early address being distributed by Governor CV Anand Bose.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) of West Bengal Finance Department, Moon Bhattacharya will submit the state budget proposals on 12 February.
(Tagstotransite) Fines for spitting in Kolkata (T) Publicly Tobacco Spitting (T) Bengal Assembly