Perhaps for the first time in the municipal history of India, a household in a city would have to dish out a hefty fine ranging from Rs. 500 at the minimum and Rs. 50,000 at the maximum for dumping garbage on the streets.
The quantum of fine would depend on the level of damage that garbage dumping has caused to the city (in any city of Andhra Pradesh). Any person littering, spitting, urinating or dumping garbage on the roads would be fined Rs. 100.
According to the Additional Commissioner of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporations (GHMC), L Vandana Kumar, amount of the penalty would be assessed as per the damage done to the public health of the city/urban area through their “irresponsible civic behavior.”
The Municipal Administration Department has issued a circular to all the 182 municipalities in Andhra Pradesh (GHMC-included) directing them to launch a 100-day cleanliness drive starting November 5. The circular says that the municipalities in the state have been suggested to pass their respective resolutions specifying the quantum of fines for the various civic offences in their respective zones.
The municipal staff will inspect kitchens of small eateries, hotels and restaurants to ensure that the disposal of garbage does not pose any health risk to the people in the colonies or residential areas.