Aurangabad, Oct 12:
The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) through its Nagrik Mitra Pathak has collected a fine of Rs 80,500 from 161 irresponsible citizens for not wearing the face masks. The figure is highest till to date since the inception of the drive in the last three months. Meanwhile, the civic administration decided to take stringent action like filing a criminal offence if the penalised persons are spotted moving again without wearing masks in the city, said the sources.
Coronavirus Disease had taken the lives of 711 persons, and more than 23,500 persons had got infected since March. The administration had a tough time while facing a pandemic situation. As a measure to prevent the spread of disease, it was made mandatory to all citizens to wear face masks while stepping out of their homes. There are some irresponsible citizens, who are taking the orders for granted and are not wearing the face masks.
The AMC''s solid waste management (SWM) cell deployed the squads comprising more than 40 ex-servicemen. These squads are authorised to fine upon citizens for not wearing a mask, found spitting or throwing domestic or hotel garbage at public places etc. The squad has been active for the past three months and has collected a fine of Rs 33 lakh. So far, the squad had collected a fine of Rs 500 each from 7,000 citizens for not wearing a mask.