MUMBAI: BMC has collected over Rs 90 lakh in fines in five months since enforcing its new Solid Waste Management Bye-laws, with civic officials taking action in more than 5,200 cases for violations ranging from littering and spitting to waste segregation and illegal dumping of construction debris.
The new bye-laws came into force across Mumbai on April 1, 2026, introducing penalties for activities that affect cleanliness, public health and the environment.
Between April 1 and August 31, the civic body took action in 5,256 cases and imposed fines totalling Rs 90.22 lakh.
In August alone, 1,250 cases were recorded, with fines amounting to Rs 20.19 lakh.
A large share of the August action related to failure to maintain clean premises and immediate surroundings.
As many as 492 cases were recorded in this category, including 251 cases against owners or residents and 241 against others. Fines totalling Rs 8.14 lakh were imposed.
Littering on roads, footpaths, gardens and other public spaces accounted for another 328 cases, attracting fines of Rs 1.74 lakh.
The civic body also took action in 122 cases involving non-segregation of waste by individuals and bulk waste generators, with Rs 52,900 collected in fines.
Construction and demolition (C&D) waste has emerged as a significant focus of the enforcement drive.
Illegal dumping and transportation of construction debris can contribute to road dust and air pollution, choke drains, obstruct public spaces and damage environmentally sensitive areas.
Between April and August, the BMC took action in 419 C&D waste-related cases and imposed fines of Rs 31.64 lakh. Of these, 349 cases involved dumping debris at unauthorised or non-designated locations, attracting fines of Rs 20.75 lakh.
Another 70 cases involved transportation of C&D waste without an approved plan, with fines of Rs 10.88 lakh.
In August, the civic body recorded 65 C&D waste violations, imposing fines of Rs 8.53 lakh.
This included 26 cases of unauthorised dumping, with Rs 4.30 lakh in fines, and 39 cases of transportation without an approved plan, attracting Rs 4.22 lakh.
The bye-laws cover a wide range of violations, including open urination and defecation, spitting, feeding animals or birds in a manner that causes a nuisance, washing vehicles or utensils in public places, burning waste, pet littering and violations by vendors and hawkers.
They also laid out action against organisers who fail to clean public event sites within the stipulated period.
Deputy municipal commissioner solid waste department Kiran Dighavkar said that the enforcement is aimed not merely at collecting fines but at making citizens, establishments, waste generators, contractors and other stakeholders accountable for maintaining cleanliness and following the prescribed waste-management system.
“We are appealing to citizens and bulk generators like large institutions to segregate and process waste at source, keep their premises and surrounding areas clean, and hand over waste only through authorised collection, transportation and disposal channels,” said Dighavkar.
