Deccan Herald 31.07.2013
Council okays bill on punishing litterers
The Legislative Council on Tuesday passed the
Karnataka Municipal Corporation (amendment) Bill, 2013, which has made
provisions to levy penalty on and punish those failing to segregate
waste, those littering and those who urinate and defecate in the public
in the limits of seven municipal corporations. The bill has already been
passed by the Legislative Assembly.
However, members
cutting across party lines expressed concern over the lack of sufficient
infrastructure facilities to implement the amended Act.
Stating
that his party (BJP) would not object to amending the act, Leader of the
Opposition, D V Sadananda Gowda, demanded that civic amenities be
created, before implementing it legally.
Citing the poor conditions of ‘Nirmala toilets’ constructed in 2003, he said some of them had been converted into godowns.
JD(S) member, M C Nanaiah, questioned as to who the government would fine as everybody is involved in littering waste.
“Just go five km around Vidhana Soudha, you will realise who is dumping waste indiscriminately. What action will you take against BBMP and BDA, which permit construction of as well as indulge in construction of mega projects like Metrorail, roads, bridges, flyovers and underpasses?” he said.
Another JD(S) member E Krishnappa asked, “Do you have toilets around Vidhana Soudha? Suppose a person who has come from a distant place urinates in public due to health problem, will you fine him? Or if the policemen on duty in the Vidhana Soudha does the same thing, will you fine him? Provide facilities first, then impose fine,” he said.
Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said that the government would consider the suggestions before implementing the Act.
JD(S) member, M C Nanaiah, questioned as to who the government would fine as everybody is involved in littering waste.
“Just go five km around Vidhana Soudha, you will realise who is dumping waste indiscriminately. What action will you take against BBMP and BDA, which permit construction of as well as indulge in construction of mega projects like Metrorail, roads, bridges, flyovers and underpasses?” he said.
Another JD(S) member E Krishnappa asked, “Do you have toilets around Vidhana Soudha? Suppose a person who has come from a distant place urinates in public due to health problem, will you fine him? Or if the policemen on duty in the Vidhana Soudha does the same thing, will you fine him? Provide facilities first, then impose fine,” he said.
Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said that the government would consider the suggestions before implementing the Act.
