Source : The Hindu Date : 17.06.2009
Heavy fine for dumping waste in public places
Staff Reporter
| First- time offenders to be fined Rs.10,000 |
Vehicles used for dumping waste to be seized
Hidden cameras to be used to catch offenders
KOCHI: Cracking the whip on those dumping garbage carelessly in public places with scant regard for civic rules, a meeting chaired by District Collector M. Beena on Tuesday decided to take severe action against such offenders.
The meeting decided to fine the first-time offenders with Rs. 10,000, and to increase it to Rs. 50,000 on repeating it.
Besides, other punitive measures including arrest under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Kerala Police Act will also be taken.
Moreover, the names of the persons caught for illegal waste dumping will be published in the media.
A special media campaign will be undertaken for this purpose.
Another significant decision was to install hidden cameras for surveillance in areas where waste was found dumped regularly. Kochi Corporation will ensure that garbage was collected without fail.
The meeting was convened in the wake of a direction given by the High Court to take necessary measures for proper waste management.
A joint surveillance by the police, revenue, and health officials will be carried out to identify those who were in the habit of dumping waste in public places.
While those dumping waste in private property will be arrested, steps would be taken to ensure that the owners kept their property clean. If the owners fail in this, the corporation will clean the property, the cost of which will be recovered from the owner by the district administration through revenue recovery, Dr. Beena said.
Vehicles used for dumping waste in public places and in private property illegally will be seized.
A meeting will be convened monthly to evaluate the progress of waste management.
Manoj Abraham, City Police Commissioner; C.V. Sajan, Additional District Magistrate; N.K. Sundareshan, Revenue Divisional Officer; N.M. Nahas, project director of the corporation; M.S. Mythili, chief environment officer; and Elizabeth, health officer of corporation; attended the meeting
