Ahmedabad: No-mask penalty up 150%, average violators fined down 75%

AHMEDABAD: For money-wise citizens, hiking fine for not wearing mask from Rs 200 to Rs 500 seems to have acted as a deterrent. After the penalty was raised on July 13, the number of violators fined sans masks in public has dipped from a daily average 1,630 in the first 10 days of July to 390 post July 14 when the fine was hiked by 150% to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Mask is the first line of defence in the fight against coronavirus pandemic. Officials said that the number of mask violators has dropped by three-fourths. A day after the mask fine was raised, on Tuesday 323 people were fined, Wednesday (560) Thursday (276) and Friday (402).
Harshad Solanki, director of the solid waste management department that is enforcing the compulsory mask rule on the ground, said Rs 500 fine has deterred many to wear masks. Some even confess that Rs 500 penalty pinches the pocket hard.
"There is a visible improvement in compliance. Compliance has risen from an average 50% to 80%. There are still 20% of people who throw caution to the wind and cite excuses like feeling suffocated while wearing a mask," said Solanki.
‘Offenders mending their ways now’
Earlier, while stubborn people were willing to pay Rs 200 fine, many are now reluctant to cough up Rs 500. In fact, we have even noticed many people wearing masks in the car even when travelling solo,” said Harshad Solanki, director of the solid waste management department.
The AMC officials said that the civic body going tough on the paan shops has led to less violation of social distancing norms. “Majority violators were found at pan shops, stopping for a smoke or daily fill of chewing tobacco. After a crackdown on paan shops, the number of violators has reduced.
The hike in fine has even led to habitual offenders mend their ways. “A grocery shop owner in Bodakdev was found sans mask on two occasions and he readily paid Rs 200 fine citing inability to wear a mask for long. Third time, he was sporting a mask while catering to customers. He said it was financially viable to [ay Rs 500 fine multiple times,” said another official.