People feeding animals in public places will also have to shell out Rs 500 from now on, and those washing vehicles in public places will be fined a steep Rs 1,000. People washing clothes in public places will have to pay a fine of Rs 200.

"Steps have been taken for effective implementation of a cleanliness drive in the city. If such actions are fined heavily, it will prove a deterrent. Otherwise many dirty the city by spitting or defecating on the roads and take it very casually. Heavy penalties will make people think twice before doing so," said Suresh Jagtap, head of the solid waste management department at the PMC.

He said that the PMC has also introduced some new fines in addition to the raising the existing ones to prevent people from dirtying public places. The proposal has been sent to the law committee of the PMC and after getting their approval it will be tabled at the general body meeting and later implemented after the general body's nod.

"Right now there are no specific parameters or fines for most of the actions that make the city dirty. The introduction of news fines will ensure that the officials will have some powers to take action even in those cases such as people bathing or washing vehicles and clothes in the open," he said.

Increase in fines

Action Current Proposed

* Spitting Rs 50 Rs 200

* Littering Rs 50 Rs 200

* Defecation Rs 50 Rs 200

New fines

Action Current Proposed

* Bathing No fine Rs 100

* Feeding animals No fine Rs 500

* Washing vehicles No Fine Rs 1,000

* Washing clothes No fine Rs 200