From December 22, segregate waste in Chandigarh or cough up penalty

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 19

Come Tuesday, the residents of Sectors 1 to 30 and the owners of commercial establishments in the entire city will have to pay a fine if they do not segregate dry and wet waste.

MC officials said they would ensure strict compliance and the collectors had been asked not to collect mixed waste from Sector 1 to 30 and commercial areas across the city. Any violation would invite a penalty. It will be Rs200 for each violation in the case of residential unit. For commercial areas, the penalty will be Rs2,000, Rs5,000 or Rs10,000, depending upon the category of the unit. The fine will be imposed and recovered on the spot.

The civic body is going to replace the existing system of lifting waste through rehris in these areas. Now, garbage will be collected in two-bin vehicles. The MC is starting off with 97 such vehicles to be deployed in Sector 1-30.

Meanwhile, questions are being raised over “not making residents aware” about the move. Leader of Opposition Devinder Singh Babla said, “They should have involved councillors or made public announcements in sectors. People are unaware about it and are not segregating waste at present.”

However, MC Medical Officer of Health Amrit Warring said, “On MC Commissioner KK Yadav’s order, we are going to issue a public notice. Besides, we will make people aware through FM radio and newspapers. Waste segregation will be mandatory. We will take care of interests of both the waste collectors and residents.”

The corporation is simultaneously registering existing garbage collectors as helpers or drivers for its vehicles. The process of registration will continue at the MC office in Sector 17 tomorrow as well. Officials said the collectors left out would be adjusted in different wings.

For the past about three years, the MC has been unsuccessfully trying to launch its waste segregation drive in the city though it claims to have started it in UT villages.