Punjab police collected whooping 32.47 cr as fine
Kanwar Inder singh/ royalpatiala.in/ Patiala
“It looks like that residents of Punjab didn’t any heed to the repeated requests made by the Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Punjab DGP Dinkar Gupta, Punjab health authorities, district administration, district police chiefs, to follow Covid 19 advisories “.The residents openly flouted the government advisories and pay whooping Rs 32. 47 crores fine for not adhering to government guidelines, from April 1,2020 to November 19,2020.
As per available information, out of Rs 32.47 cr, Punjab police collected Rs.30.86 cr from persons not wearing face masks from April 1,2020 to November 19,2020. Out of this Rs. 14.76 cr is collected from April-July. In August 7.60 , in September 7.60 cr, in October 2.46 cr and till November 19,2020 1.13 cr is collected.
Rs. 0.31 cr is collected for violating social distancing guidelines, 0.03 cr from large public gatherings, 0.07 crs from persons violating home quarantine facility, 0.36 cr is collected for spitting in Public places, 0.84 cr is collected from vehicles challan. No fine is collected for violating home isolation facility.
Gulneet Singh Khurana, IPS, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Pathankot informed that 9264 challan were issueed in the district for not wearing face mask and Rs 43,84,500/- were collected as fine. He further informed that 74 challans were issued for spitting and Rs 9000 collected as fine. Similarly 51 challans were issued for social distancing and Rs 1,02,000/- were collected from the violators. 15 residents floted home quarantine facility and the police collected Rs 30,000/- as fine and 242 vehicles were impounded in the district.
‘Punjab government, Punjab police has undertaken a massive campaign, drive to spread awareness, but many people are seen least bothered about the advisories and are happy in paying fine rather than following guidelines. Government, health authorities issues guidelines, for their safety, but lackadaisical behavior of residents, is a cause of concern” said a Punjab police official.
As per Punjab government orders, COVID-19 patients violating home isolation instructions in Punjab will have to shell out Rs 5000 as fine, Rs 5000 as fine for owners of restaurants and commercial eating places violating social distancing norms, violation of social distancing norms and social gatherings of more than the permitted strength will lead to penalty amounting to a whopping Rs 10000, for not wearing a mask in public places (Rs 500), violation of home quarantine instructions (Rs 200) and spitting at public places (Rs 500).
November 23,2020
