Key Points :
- 45% walkers on the promenade are Covidiots
- The fine of Rs.200 has not stopped people from ‘not wearing’ masks
- The fine was reduced from 1k to Rs. 200.
- Walkers are seen arguing with the officials when charged fine for their deeds.
Marine Drive – the heart of Mumbai had stopped seeing the citizens for a while due to the ongoing pandemic. Unlock 2.0 let loose the chains of doors of people and let them breathe fresh air on the drive. Walkers on Marine Drive are seen disregarding the guideline passed due to the Coronavirus, of wearing a Mask. Due to this, people are putting more lives at stake of contracting Covid-19. On Saturday alone, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) collected fine from 45 people for not wearing the protective gear of Rs. 9000/- in total. 85 defaulters were fined in five days.
“People know that we are in the middle of a pandemic, yet they lack the discipline of wearing masks. The civic body has also cut the fine amount. Now, the least people can do for the sake of themselves and others is to ‘Wear The Mask’,” Deputy Municipal Commissioner Harshad Kale told the Free Press Journal.
BMC recently slashed fines on not wearing the mask from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 200 after seeing a lot of resistance from the citizens. The fine is not a source of extra money but merely to raise awareness about the safety in such times. The reduction of fine rates also meant that the civic body would be penalizing people more uncompromisingly. BMC has fined around 500-600 people on weekdays, while around 850 – 900 violators were fined during the weekends.
The revised rates were implemented from September 13 and a total amount of Rs 8.42 lakh has been collected as fine in the first week.
