These fines have been charged for a range of violations, including improper waste disposal, public urination, and the failure to segregate dry and wet waste.

Sandeep Kadam, who is in charge of solid waste management at PMC, stated, “The amount of fines collected is the highest it has been in the last three years. We have set up flying squads similar to those of the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC), where dedicated employees are assigned to take action against offenders. We are also considering a zone-wise action plan to ensure that residents have clean environments.”

He also mentioned that health inspectors and squad members now have the power to impose fines on individuals who do not follow.

Starting in March 2024, the civic body has raised fines for not segregating waste from ₹60 for the first offence and ₹180 for subsequent offences to ₹300 and ₹500; for bulk waste generators, fines have increased from ₹5,000 to ₹15,000 based on the frequency of violations, and fines for burning waste have gone up from ₹500 to ₹5,000.