MC issues 80 challans for littering public places in city

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 20

A day after Diwali, the Municipal Corporation today cracked a whip on households outside which waste was found scattered. It issued as many as 80 challans to the violators.

Of these, 78 challans issued were of Rs 500 each. One challan each was issued for Rs 10,500 and Rs 5,500. Most Rs 500 challans were issued as waste from bursting of crackers, candles and other festival-related stuff was not removed by people outside their houses. Many public places were found littered.

Other two challans were issued after debris was found outside a booth in Sector 8 and a house in RBI Colony, Sector 30. 

“We had formed various teams to check public littering after Diwali. Teams visited many areas and also those places from where we had received complaints. After verifying violations, we issued the challans,” said an MC official.

Criticising the move, Baljinder Singh Bittu, president of Federation of Sectors Welfare Association Chandigarh (FOSWAC), said: “If residents will do this job, then what is the work of MC safai workers?”

“I was issued a challan as cracker waste was found near my house. Many people bursted crackers here. Why the MC is penalising the common man after the festival. At least, they should give us time, if they want us to lift the waste and not their staff,” said one of the persons, who was issued a challan.

Meanwhile, Mayor Asha Kumari Jaswal cleaned the road with a broom outside her house on the Diwali night following the bursting of crackers.