BMC collects Rs 30,96,21,200 as fine for not wearing masks  

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has collected Rs 30,96,21,200 in fine for not wearing masks at public places in Mumbai from April 2020 to date during the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said on February 24.

From April 1, 2020 to February 15 this year, the BMC has caught 15,16,398 people without masks and collected Rs 30,69,09,800 as a fine from them, civic officials said. The highest number of 1,08,069 people were caught without face masks in Mumbai's K-West ward, which includes areas like Juhu, Andheri (West) and Versova, according to the BMC data.

Out of these offenders, 13,008 were caught on Feb 22 and a fine of Rs 26,01,600 was collected from them, a BMC official said. The BMC has been imposing a fine of Rs 200 for not wearing a face mask in public places.

BMC officials said they also asked some offenders who didn't have the money to pay the penalty to do community services like sweeping the street.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra's Amravati, one of the districts that are contributing the highest to Maharashtra's increasing number of daily infections, saw the highest single-day spike on Feb 23.

The district is under a seven-day lockdown, which started on February 22. All shops, establishments, schools, colleges are closed in the district now. Only essential services are allowed.

The sudden spike in daily cases in Maharashtra began in February. Amravati reported 9,069 Covid-19 cases only in February. Out of this 4,728 were detected since February 17.

Meanwhile, Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has also asked citizens to strictly follow government-mandated guidelines on masks and social distancing or be prepared to face another round of lockdown.