NMC has directed Nuisance Detection Squad to take ‘stringent’ action against the offending citizens who litter garbage at public places
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Nagpur: After the drubbing in the Swacch Sarvekshan ranking, now the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) administration has decided to penalise those citizens who are found dumping garbage at public places. The NMC has directed Nuisance Detection Squad (NDS) to take ‘stringent’ action against the offending citizens.
According to reports, a penalty of Rs 100 will be recovered from individuals, Rs 400 from shops, Rs 1,000 from educational institutions, and Rs 2,000 from hospitals etc. The penalty is aimed at making Nagpur ‘clean and beautiful’, and to improve the city’s ranking in sanitation and hygiene.
Notably, Nagpur slipped to 27th rank, out of the 47 cities (above 10 lakh population category) in Swachh Survekshan-2022. The public perception that Nagpur’s political and administrative leaderships have failed in ensuring cleanliness in Nagpur City, has been reflected in the Swachh Survekshan rankings declared recently. As per the latest rankings, Nagpur had dipped four places — from 23rd position last year to 27th this year. Absence of scientific treatment and zero recycling of solid waste is the main reason for Nagpur’s poor performance.
Now, as per the directives of the civic administration, NDS will take strict action against those who urinate in public places, throw garbage, spit, and use plastic bags with thickness less than 50 microns. Ram Joshi, Additional Municipal Commissioner, issued the directions to NDS in a meeting held on Monday. Dr Gajendra Mahalle, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Solid Waste Management); Veerasen Tambe, NDS Head, were present prominently.
As per the decision taken in the meeting, any person throwing garbage in public places such as road, footpath, open spaces etc will have to pay Rs 100 as a fine. Shopkeepers dumping garbage in public places like roads, footpaths, open spaces will have to pay a penalty of Rs 400. Educational institutes and coaching classes dumping garbage in public places shall be charged Rs 1,000. Penalty of Rs 2,000 will be levied on dispensaries, hospitals, pathology laboratories etc if they dump garbage in public places.
The amount of penalty will be the same for malls, restaurants, lodging and boarding hotels, cinema halls, wedding halls, caterers, service providers etc. If businessmen with fixed construction/shop dump garbage/waste in public places, they will have to shell out Rs 2,000 as penalty. Penalty amount is Rs 1,000 for those keeping animals in public places, washing vehicles/animals in public places, chicken centres and meat sellers dumping garbage in public places, workshops/ garages /repair shop owners dumping waste in public places.
The amount of penalty will be Rs 400 for very small/retail vendors doing business on pavements, handcarts. Besides, NDS will take action under Maharashtra Non-Degradable Waste Control Act, 2006 against manufacturers, sellers, stockists etc of plastic carry bags with less than defined thickness.
In the meeting held on Monday, Joshi said that it was necessary to take action against citizens who threw garbage on streets and pavements, spit, polluted water sources, urinated on roadsides, used plastic bags etc to keep the city clean. If citizens or shopkeepers hand over garbage to sanitation workers, it will help in maintaining cleanliness in market areas. He urged the citizens to use ‘Swachhta App’, and also register their complaints by downloading the app on their mobile phone handsets. “NMC shall redress the complaints as soon as possible,” he said.
First, awareness will be created among people. Even after this, if garbage is found in public places and markets, penal action will be taken against violators. Joshi urged shopkeepers to keep green and blue waste bins in their shops to collect wet and dry waste. NMC has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Ved Foundation, through which members of Rotary Club, Swachh Sangathan are providing services. Cleanliness drive is being supported by NGOs like Green Vigil Foundation, Tejaswini Mahila Mandal, Rotary Club etc.
