Shimla Municipal Corporation constitutes flying squad to curb dumping of debris in forests
The flying squad will carry out day and night surprise inspections across the town to check any illegal dumping activities
Aiming to curb illegal dumping of debris in the forest areas of the town, the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) has decided to constitute a five-member flying squad which will ensure stern action against those indulging in the practice.
The squad comprises Khalini's councillor Alok Pathania, Boileauganj councillor Dileep Thapa, Shanti Vihar councillor Vineet Sharma, Sangti councillor Kuldeep Thakur and Summer Hill councillor Virender Thakur. The corporation also plans to add more members to the squad.
The flying squad will carry out day and night surprise inspections across the town to check any illegal dumping activities. In case of any such activity, the squad will inform the Forest Department and note down details of the offender as well as the registration number of the vehicle being used to transport debris. The squad has also been authorised to issue challans and impound vehicles of the offenders.
Along with this, the SMC has also instructed the remaining councillors to immediately report any illegal dumping activities in their respective wards. Expressing serious concern over continuous illegal dumping in the town, Surinder Chauhan, Mayor, the SMC said, “Illegal dumping of debris in the forest areas continues to be a serious issue in the town which needs to be dealt with strictly. Keeping this in mind, we have decided to constitute flying squad. Its members will conduct a surprise inspections across the town.”
However, the Mayor also clarified that he could not make a woman councillor squad member citing safety reasons. As members would conduct inspections during the night hours, it was not safe for women councillors, he said.
The Mayor also said that work was under way to provide designated debris dumping sites to residents. “The first phase approval has been received for developing two dumping sites near the IGMC and at Chalaunthi. The work to develop these sites is underway. The corporation will also purchase around 20 to 25 vehicles, which will transport debris from construction sites to dumps,” he said.
