GUWAHATI, Sept 24 - Miffed at the spit marks on walkways, staircases, walls and tree barks, a citizen has petitioned the government seeking a stern anti-spitting law.
Stating that such a law would go a long way in boosting the health and tourism sectors, besides contributing to cleanliness, Adeetya Vikram Tewari, in a representation to the Kamrup Metro Deputy Commissioner M Angamuthu on Friday, rued that most municipal laws already prohibit spitting and prescribe penalties, but the provisions are not enforced.
Copies of the representation have been sent to the State Health Minister and the GMC Commissioner.
�Union Health Minister JP Nadda had promised concerned members of the Rajya Sabha that he would advise all States to ban spitting in public. The Union Minister has expressed concern that the �great Indian spit� was causing communicable diseases, such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, etc,� Tewari said.
Tewari proposed imposing fines and penalties on offenders. �The amounts collected can be used for local health-care services,� he said in the petition.
�The DC appreciated the idea and said it can be taken up,� Tewari, a young businessman, told this newspaper.
�The situation in the Fancy Bazar area has saddened me. I tried putting banners and appealing to people to cooperate, but to no avail,� he added.
