Imposing heavy fine on throwing garbage in open awaits approval

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 7

Fine of Rs 5,000 for households and Rs 10,000 for commercial outlets for throwing garbage in the open remains only on paper as even over a month after the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation cleared the issue, it is yet to be included in the sanitation bylaws. 

At present, the civic body is able to fine only Rs 500 and violators get their challans released from the local court for about Rs 100.

“We have been strict, issuing challans to those who are throwing garbage in the open and inconveniencing people in residential as well as commercial areas,” councillor Ravi Kant Sharma said. 

“But people get their challans released from court for about Rs 100. Since the offenders are not getting a strict lesson, there is no stopping the violations.”

The issue has gained more importance after the launch of the dry and wet garbage segregation scheme in Chandigarh. As per the scheme, those not subscribing to garbage collectors and not paying them will have the charges reflected in their water bill. And if they are found throwing garbage in the open, they will be fined Rs 5,000 recovery charges. However, the scheme is yet to be implemented.

MC joint commissioner Manoj Khatri said the amount would be recovered for the additional labour and machinery deployed by the civic body to clear the garbage littered. However, the approval of the secretary, local administration, is awaited.

Medical officer Dr PS Bhatti told Chandigarh Tribune that the civic body issues about 800 challans a month for all type of offences, including for smoking in public and throwing garbage in the open.