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Nagpur: Beware! Next time you dump garbage in open and dirty the surrounding, be ready to cough up hefty fine. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to double the fine for littering the open space with garbage and filth in and around residential premises. The civic body has formed Nuisance Detection Squads comprising ex-servicemen to penalize the polluters including garbage dumping, burning, spitting etc. From April 2, the fine will be doubled. The ex-servicemen appointed as ‘Cleanliness Ambassadors’ have been authorised to recover the fine.
The NMC’s Standing Committee had approved the doubling of fine. The decision was to implemented from April 1 but being a Sunday, the move will come into force from April 2, the Health Officer (Sanitation) Dr Pradeep Dasarwar said.
The committee had directed adding a penalty of Rs 100 for burning or dumping garbage or waste in open. A penalty of Rs 1,000 has already been approved earlier for solid waste pollution from marriage halls and lawns. This penalty was increased to Rs 51,000 as NGT had ordered penalty of Rs 50,000 for this particular violation.
The General Body of NMC has recently cleared the proposal to levy fine on the citizens, if mosquito-breeding site is detected in and around their property. The general body cleared the bye-laws to controlthe spread of malaria, dengue, chikungunya and other mosquito-borne diseases in the city. The bye-laws framed by Malaria and Filaria Department will be sent to State Government for final approval. NMC has made a modest beginning by proposing a Rs 100 fine. Every year, Health Inspectors of the local body find several breeding sites due to stagnation of water. Construction sites, abandoned projects and vacant plots have been found to be major breeding grounds of mosquito and in one case, residents of neighbouring building have to actually move the High Court requesting it to direct NMC to take corrective steps.
NMC has proposed fine of Rs 100 to the residents while Rs 500 will be charged from the commercial establishments. The hospitals, organisations, government offices, schools and colleges will have to pay fine of Rs 500, if they fail to control the breeding sites. The civic body will levy fine of Rs 20 every day to the residents for not maintaining cleanliness at their home while commercial establishments will have to pay Rs 100 per day. Similarly, hospitals, government offices will have to shell out Rs 200perday in case of negligence.
