Aafrin Kidwai 
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has collected lakhs of rupees in penalties in the past few months through fines from residents violating solid waste management rules. BBMP data shows marshals and health workers collected fines amounting to a whopping Rs 2,35,01,693.50 from September 2019 till December 3, 2020.
Of this, the sum collected for unscientific waste disposal alone is Rs 1,70,66,510.70. Records also show that BBMP collected huge penalties for unscientific disposal of solid waste and littering in September and November, at Rs 12,66,425.81 and Rs 11,37,483.59 respectively, reports The New Indian Express.
The remainder of the amount was collected from people caught by the BBMP for not wearing masks. People using plastic that did not meet standards fetched the Palike a total of Rs 55,02,708 since September 2019 and those spitting in public spaces paid a total of Rs 20,950.
An official said the money collected is a huge amount that will be used for solid waste management related expenses. However, most of the penalty collected is from commercial establishments such as restaurants, hotels, eateries, and food joints, which dump mixed waste. Penalties have also been collected by patrolling marshals when they see citizens littering on roads and creating black spots. During the lockdown, most black spots were cleared, but now they have re-emerged everywhere.
