Pune Civic Body Fines Thousands Monthly to Drive Behavioral Change

As of September 30th, 2025, Pune city continues to grapple with the chronic problem of open garbage dumping. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is taking strong measures to address this issue, with Deputy Municipal Commissioner Sandip Kadam leading the charge.

The PMC has increased its crackdown on citizens who violate cleanliness rules, taking action against 5,000 people and collecting fines of around ₹4 lakh every month. However, Kadam emphasizes that the intention is not merely to penalize, but to drive a lasting behavioral change among citizens. The civic body is lifting an astonishing 300 tons of waste dumped alongside roads daily, a testament to the scale of the problem.

To tackle the issue, the PMC has placed 30% of its cleanliness staff on night shifts to target chronic garbage spots where commercial establishments and hawkers often dump waste. The civic administration has also directed ward offices to act tough against those dumping construction debris in open plots and on roadsides. While Pune has been ranked 8th in the country's Cleanliness Index, the PMC is focused on maintaining consistent cleanliness throughout the year, rather than just for competition.

Kadam acknowledges that public participation is crucial for achieving cleanliness in the city, as the PMC's 12,000 staff cannot single-handedly keep the 70-lakh population clean. The civic body is conducting awareness campaigns, involving citizens in cleanliness drives, and targeting students to inculcate good habits from a young age.