Nashik: Rs 1,000 fine for skipping mask in public

NASHIK: Any resident of Nashik district found without a mask in a public place will soon have to pay a fine of Rs 1,000 — double the fine amount imposed till now for this Covid-19 protocol violation.
Moreover, establishments will also be made accountable and be slapped with a fine of Rs 5,000 if people are found there without masks.
Nashik district collector Suraj Mandhare has issued a notification in this connection following the state government guidelines.
Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) officials said they will start levying the increased fines with immediate effect. “We will issue an order in this connection in a day or two and will start implementing immediately,” said NMC officials.
NMC started slapping fines on the erring city residents during the first wave last year. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19, the NMC squads have fined over 14,000 erring city residents, collecting fine of Rs 50 lakh. Of them, 9,457 erring city residents were fined for not wearing mask in public and market places in the city during the last financial year 2020-21, paying a total fine of Rs 27.12 lakh.
During the current financial year, between April 1 and November 18, NMC has fined 4,578 erring city residents, collecting a total fine of Rs 22.9 lakh.
The fine amount has been increased from Rs 200 last year to Rs 500 before Diwali this year.