Open house: Will MC’s night challaning initiative address city’s garbage woes?

MC needs to adopt Holistic approach

The Municipal Corporation’s move to begin night challaning for those who throw garbage in the open can act as a deterrent, but fines alone cannot resolve a long-standing civic problem. While strict enforcement may curb careless disposal — especially in areas where people misuse the lack of supervision after dark — lasting change requires building a sense of responsibility among citizens. This can only be achieved through steady awareness campaigns and active community involvement in maintaining cleanliness. Often, people litter due to the absence of waste bins. Strengthening waste management systems by ensuring timely collection, providing segregated bins, and offering easily accessible dumping spots can greatly reduce such behaviour. Installing CCTVs at key locations may also discourage offenders by creating a sense of accountability. Ultimately, a balanced approach that blends enforcement with education and better infrastructure is the most effective path forward. When citizens understand the value of cleanliness and have proper facilities, compliance naturally follows, making night challaning just one part of a sustainable solution.

Novin Christopher

Promote waste segregation at source

The Municipal Corporation’s decision is a step towards addressing the issue, but its effectiveness depends on various factors. While strict enforcement can deter some individuals, it may not entirely curb the problem. Many people may not be aware of the impact of their actions or lack access to proper waste disposal facilities. A more holistic approach would involve combining enforcement with awareness campaigns and improving waste management infrastructure. This could include installing more dustbins, implementing door-to-door waste collection, and promoting segregation of waste at source. Educating citizens about the importance of proper waste disposal and involving community groups in the process can also foster a sense of ownership and responsibility. By addressing the root causes and providing alternatives, the MC can create an environment where citizens are more likely to adopt responsible waste disposal habits, making the challaning and fines more effective in the long run. Awareness and infrastructure development should go hand-in-hand with enforcement.

Jaspreet Kaur

Joint effort only way forward

Open dumping of garbage is a serious problem that harms the environment and public health. Waste thrown openly causes disease outbreaks, blocks drains, and pollutes land and water. Besides, the stench is unbearable. To control this issue, both the Muncipal Corporation and the general populace must work together. The MC must ensure regular garbage collection, provide more dustbins, promote segregation of wet and dry waste, and develop recycling and composting units. Strict fines on littering can also reduce the problem. People must become aware, avoid throwing waste openly, reduce plastic use, and participate in cleanliness drives. Joint efforts can help create a clean and healthy environment.

Amarjit Singh Oberoi

Focused management need of the hour

The Municipal Corporation’s move to catch hold of people throwing garbage in the open at night is a new practice, and is sure to show results. Sanitation workers who are caught indulging must be punished with fines and their carts should be confiscated by the authorities. No one should be allowed to throw garbage in the open at any time and this must be discouraged with strict enforcement using punitive measures. It is equally important that the corporation spends energy on the proper management of the garbage in the city to stop pollution, tainting the progress of a ‘smart city’.

Gautam Dev

Place more dustbins in busy areas

I believe the Municipal Corporation should take stronger steps to improve the city’s waste management system, as clean surroundings are essential for public health and the overall quality of life. One effective measure would be to place more dustbins in busy areas and ensure that they are emptied regularly so garbage does not overflow onto the streets. Along with improving waste collection, the authorities should also introduce a night challan system. This system would involve officials monitoring areas during late hours to ensure people are not throwing waste carelessly. Many individuals tend to dump garbage at night when there is less supervision, so enforcing rules during this time would discourage such behaviour. If anyone is found littering despite the availability of dustbins, strict fines should be imposed. These combined efforts would help maintain cleanliness, promote responsible habits, and encourage citizens to take better care of their environment.

Prabhjot Singh Khalsa

Compliance becomes a natural response

While night challaning and imposing penalties may provide short-term deterrence, long-term change necessitates improving trash management systems and raising community awareness. The Municipal Corporation should prioritise door-to-door collection and prompt garbage removal so that households are not forced to discard waste in public. Besides, a strong awareness campaign — via schools, RWAs, and local influencers — can help transform public opinion by emphasising the health and environmental risks of open dumping. Citizens will find it easier to dispose of waste responsibly because of clear segregation guidelines, dedicated disposal areas, and widely accessible complaint channels. When enhanced infrastructure is combined with persistent awareness initiatives, compliance becomes voluntary rather than fear-driven, resulting in cleaner neighbourhoods in the long term.

Tamanpreet Kaur Khangura

Monitor hotspots using CCTV cameras

Enforcement alone cannot solve the issue. Sustainable change requires strong public awareness to build civic responsibility and discourage habitual dumping. At the same time, the city needs improved waste management systems — adequate dustbins, regular collection, clear segregation methods, and monitored hotspots using CCTV or digital reporting. A balanced approach works best: strict penalties to curb violations, awareness campaigns to change behaviour, and efficient infrastructure to provide proper disposal alternatives. Active community participation, responsibility from plot owners, and periodic audits can further strengthen the system.

Jagjit Singh

Cleanliness must become a habit

Fines may deter people because of a fear factor, but they may not necessarily change habits. Many citizens litter because they do not find dustbins nearby, waste is not collected on time, or they simply do not understand the impact of their actions. To make the city truly clean, we need more than penalties. The MC should focus on spreading awareness, teaching people why cleanliness matters, and improving the waste management system. More dustbins, better garbage collection, and simple information campaigns can make a big difference. A clean city is created when people feel responsible, not when they feel scared. Real change happens when cleanliness becomes a habit, not a forced action.

Daraspreet Kaur

Need to enhance night patrolling

The MC’s move to use night challaning can be effective as a deterrent but must be coupled with greater emphasis on awareness campaigns and improved waste management systems to achieve a lasting solution. A multi-pronged approach is considered essential by experts and officials for sustainable solid waste management. Imposing substantial, on-the-spot fines acts as a strong deterrent against open dumping, particularly for commercial establishments and bulk waste generators. The Jalandhar MC has introduced fines ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 50,000 depending on the severity of the violation. Night patrolling must be utilised to target those who dispose of garbage during late hours to avoid detection. Empowering sanitation inspectors and using geo-tagged photographic evidence or CCTV footage for violations enhances accountability and provides proof for legal proceedings. Awareness campaigns and community engagement — Shram Daan programmes or social media initiatives — are crucial for fostering a sense of civic duty and promoting long-term behavioural change among residents and shopkeepers. Developing proper processing recycling infrastructure is essential to make cities pollution free. All these measures have a potential to ensure good health and sense of wellbeing.

Sukhdev Sharma

Build more recycling units, conduct audits

Besides imposing fines, the MC should spread awareness among the residents, for example through social media, and in schools and colleges. This responsibility does not fall on the civic body alone, it is a collective duty that we should not litter in the open. The MC should install garbage bins in every street. This will also keep our city clean. CCTV cameras should be installed in markets and crowded places like bus stands and railway stations to identify those who litter, facilitating immediate action. More and more recycling units should be built in city so that waste is repurposed. Separate collection of “wet” and “dry” waste should be made mandatory. The MC should conduct audits and issue a monthly report and rank neighbourhoods based on cleanliness.

Prabhjot Kaur

Utilise the power of social media

The MC’s decision to impose fines on people who throw garbage in the open is a good step, but it will work only if it is implemented strictly. Many people continue to litter because they know there is no real punishment. Regular challaning can make them more responsible. However, fines alone cannot solve the problem. The city needs more dustbins, regular garbage collection, and clean public spaces. Awareness campaigns in schools, markets, and residential areas can teach people why cleanliness is important. The MC should also use social media, posters, and community meetings to spread this message. If both strict fines and awareness programmes are used together, people will think twice before littering. A clean environment is everyone’s responsibility, and with better waste-management systems, the city can become cleaner and healthier for all.

Harneet Kaur

Education fosters behavioural change

The core question is whether punitive measures, such as night challenging and fines for open garbage disposal, are sufficient to curb the problem, or if a more holistic approach is necessary. Relying solely on fines may yield short-term compliance but often fails to address the root causes of improper disposal. Behavioural change is a complex process that requires sustained awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the importance of proper waste segregation and disposal methods. When people understand the environmental and health impacts, they are more likely to comply voluntarily. Furthermore, the effectiveness of any enforcement strategy is heavily dependent on the availability of adequate waste management infrastructure. If citizens lack access to sufficient bins, regular collection services, and proper processing facilities, fines become an unjust burden rather than a corrective measure. A robust system that makes proper disposal easy and accessible is a prerequisite for successful implementation of penalties. Therefore, a balanced approach combining strict enforcement with extensive public awareness campaigns and significant investment in waste management systems is likely to be most effective. Penalties act as a deterrent, while education fosters long-term behavioral change, and infrastructure provides the necessary tools for compliance. Sustainable solutions require addressing all facets of the problem simultaneously.

Manmeet Kaur

Small steps for big change in future

When we take a firm and strong decision, people become aware and stop throwing garbage on the roads. The municipal authorities should now take a serious step and impose fines on all the people who throw garbage in public places. This action will definitely bring a great and positive result because people follow rules more responsibly when punitive measures are enforced strictly. Along with strict fines, the government should also place dustbins wherever they are needed, especially in crowded areas like markets, bus stands, schools, parks, and residential streets. When dustbins are easily available, people will naturally develop the habit of using them instead of throwing waste on the road. Clean surroundings not only improve the beauty of our city but also protect us from many diseases. If both the government and the public work together, we can create a cleaner, healthier, and more responsible society. A small step taken today can lead to a big change in future.

Ishpreet Kaur

Balanced approach most effective

The Municipal Committee’s decision can bring quick results. When people know they may face a penalty, they naturally behave more responsibly. This step can act as an immediate control, but it cannot fully solve the problem on its own. Lasting cleanliness comes from awareness and understanding. Many individuals still do not realise how open dumping affects public health, pollutes our surroundings, and harms the environment we depend on. Awareness drives in schools, colonies, and community spaces can help build a culture where cleanliness becomes a shared value, not just a rule. Along with awareness, proper waste management systems are essential. Easy access to dustbins, timely garbage collection, and clear segregation methods make it easier for people to follow the right habits. Therefore, a balanced approach — strict fines supported by awareness and better facilities — is the most effective way to curb open garbage disposal.

Veerpal Kaur

Steps to improve urban sanitation

Maintaining proper hygiene in the city is very important for the health and safety of citizens. The government must take concrete steps to create awareness among people. One effective method is to hang banners in different areas so that people understand the importance of keeping the city clean. Awareness camps should also be arranged where people can learn basic hygiene practices and understand their role in keeping the surroundings clean. The areas where hygiene conditions are poor should be cleaned regularly by the government to prevent diseases. Along with this, strict rules should be followed. Fines can be charged from those who do not maintain cleanliness or break hygiene rules. Installing cameras in the main areas of the city can also help the authorities monitor sanitation from time to time. With collective efforts of the government and citizens, a clean and healthy city can be achieved.

Navneet Singh

Reward clean wards, mohallas every month

The daily door-to-door collection from houses as well as shops can improve the situation. One can see large garbage dumps outside communities, the sight of which triggers others to follow suit. The sanitation staff have to go miles for waste disposal at the static compactor. Having a static compactor in each and every ward is the need of the hour. At the same time, cleanliness should be rewarded. The authorities must award the cleanest wards and mohallas every month. This will wider participation. It is our city and our collective measures can help to make it clean. A little effort by each one of us can do wonders.

Ritu Sharma

Issue needs more than mere enforcement

Strict penalties often create fear and discourage people from littering, especially in areas where such behaviour usually goes unnoticed at night. However, long-term improvement requires more than enforcement. Public awareness campaigns are essential to help citizens understand the environmental impact of improper waste disposal. The MC should also strengthen waste collection systems, install more dustbins, and ensure timely garbage pickup. When clean infrastructure, awareness, and strict rules work together, people become more responsible, and civic habits improve naturally. Therefore, fines should continue, but equal or greater emphasis must be placed on education and better waste-management facilities for lasting results.

Tavleen Kaur Sangtani

Issue explained

The MC’s plan to impose night challans and fines on those throwing garbage in the open is aimed at creating immediate deterrence, but experts note that enforcement alone cannot solve the problem. While penalties may discourage careless dumping, lasting change requires awareness campaigns and better waste management systems. Many residents lack proper disposal options or knowledge about segregation, so education and infrastructure improvements are essential. A balanced approach — combining strict enforcement with public participation and accessible facilities — offers the most effective path.

Question for next week

The state government claims to have upgraded government schools. Is education at these schools up to the required standard? What more needs to be done to attract masses to state-funded schools?

Suggestions in not more than 150 words can be sent to ludhianadesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (November 27)