The Hindu              28.01.2014 

Now, you will be fined for littering

Residents disposing waste in public places will have to cough up a fine from now onwards.

The
Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) has fixed a fine on
littering and will be taking steps to implement the decision soon. The
HDMC’s action follows an amendment to the Karnataka Municipal
Corporations Act, 1976, that enables the imposition of a fine on those
violating the law on solid waste disposal, and is in accordance with the
Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Law, 2000.

The
HDMC recently initiated weekly cleaning drives with the objective of
keeping the city clean. As part of the initiative, the corporation
installed information boards in designated places in all the wards,
containing information on the cleaning contractor and contact numbers in
case of complaints. Fines for different offences is as follows:

Under
the law, littering/throwing of waste, spitting, urinating or defecating
on roads, bus stations, railway stations, playgrounds, parks and other
public places will attract a fine of Rs. 100 for the first and second
time and Rs. 200 subsequently.

The public will have
to pay a fine for failing to segregate dry and wet waste. For first and
second-time offences, households will have to pay Rs. 100 and Rs. 500
afterwards. For commercial complexes and establishments generating waste
in large quantities, the fine for the first two times is Rs. 500 and
for subsequent offences it is Rs. 1,000.

Lack of
cleanliness and hygiene in public places will attract a fine of Rs. 100
for the first two times and Rs. 200 subsequently.

Failure
to segregate park waste, biodegradable and non biodegradable waste,
bio-medical waste and other wastes will attract a fine of Rs. 500
initially and Rs. 1,000 for subsequent offences.

Collection
of effluents and solid waste in an unorganised manner will attract Rs.
100 initially and Rs. 200 subsequently. A similar fine will be imposed
for discharging effluents on the road and for storing carcasses and
effluents. Under the law, the haphazard disposal of construction debris
will be penalised with a fine of Rs. 1,000 for the first two times and
Rs. 5,000 subsequently.

Helpline

HDMC
Special Officer S.H. Naregal said that while steps will be taken to
effectively implement the law, a helpline (0836-2213888, 2213898) has
been set up to allow the public to register complaints about violations
in solid waste disposal.