Concerned over the sharp rise in infectious disease like tuberculosis, Maharashtra government will introduce a bill banning spitting in public places in the upcoming state Legislature Budget session scheduled next month.

State Health Minister Deepak Sawant had last year at a function on World Cancer Day mooted the idea of a law banning spitting in public places besides the proposed law banning chewing of tobacco in public. The minister in a series of tweets yesterday said the proposed law aims at discouraging people from spitting in public places.