Thane: Municipal corporation to penalise people for not wearing masks

THANE: The municipal corporation will now penalise those spotted venturing outside without wearing masks as a stern measure to encourage residents to comply by safety norms as the Covid count in the lake city is steadily rising.
An order issued by municipal commissioner Dr Vipin Sharma, Friday, mandates a penalty of rs 500 on those found not wearing masks in public places. “We have issued fresh directive to make wearing masks compulsory in public places in the past. However, several residents have been seen flouting the norms and risking infections, following which the administration has been compelled to devise the stern action,” said an official.
Accordingly, all civic field staff have been empowered to levy spot fines on those found flouting the norms and not wearing masks. The emphasis will be more on pedestrians, bikers and those using public transport and modes where there is risk of contamination and accordingly levy the penalty which has to be accompanied with a valid receipt, said officials.