Thiruvananthapuram | Over 60 lakh has been imposed as a fine for dumping waste on public places in Kerala, in the cases people reported through a WhatsApp number provided by the state Local Self Government Department (LSGD) in a year, officials said.

People were given a total reward of Rs 1,29,750 for informing about waste dumping in various places with adequate proof through the dedicated WhatsApp number introduced last year, an official statement said here on Saturday.

"In a year, fines totaling Rs 61,47,550 were imposed in 755 cases reported by the public through WhatsApp," the statement said.

Prosecution proceedings have been initiated in 63 incidents.

"The total fine imposed for dumping waste in the last one year is Rs 11.01 crore. Of the total fine, 5.58 per cent was imposed based on complaints received on the WhatsApp number," it said.

LSGD Minister M B Rajesh congratulated everyone who reported through WhatsApp about the incidents of waste dumping they came across, the statement said.

The initiative stepped up public vigilance and monitoring of waste management activities, he said.

Out of the total 12,265 complaints received through the single WhatsApp number, 7912, ones submitted with accurate information were accepted, it said, adding that action has been taken on 7,362 of these complaints.

The highest number of violations reported through WhatsApp was from Thiruvananthapuram (2,100) and Ernakulam (2028) districts. The lowest number was reported from Wayanad district (155), the statement added.