₹51.7cr: Covid Fine Delhi Paid In 2 Mths

Norms Flouted During Peak Of Second Wave

- Alok KN Mishra

New Delhi: If you had to put a figure to crass indiscipline, it would be 51.7 crore. That is the amount in rupees collected from careless Delhiites between April 23 and July 7 for disregarding Covid-appropriate behaviour. On April 20, Delhi reported over 28,000 single-day Covid cases and for many days patients were unable to find beds in hospitals or gasped for breath as oxygen supplies ran short, while the cremation grounds staggered with too many bodies to handle. But that apocalyptic ambience seems to have been quickly forgotten.

After April 23, 2.7 lakh citizens have been penalised for disregarding the necessity to wear a mask. Over 27,000 people have been fined for not maintaining the required physical distancing in public, over 11,000 for spitting in the open, and over 3,000 for chewing gutka and tobacco or imbibing liquor in public spaces.