Now, littering in Chandigarh may invite up to ₹10,000 fine

Hoping to improve the city’s Swachh Survekshan rankings, the Chandigarh municipal corporation is now targeting 48 garbage vulnerable points across the city, and will impose a fine of up to ₹10,000 on those found dumping waste in the open.

Garbage vulnerable points (GVPs) are locations where people dump their garbage in vacant spots or along the roadside, which are not only a blot on the City Beautiful, but also attract stray animals, causing public nuisance.

The municipal corporation (MC) has initiated a three-pronged approach to tackle the problem.

Boards warning people against dumping of waste have been put up at the GVPs.

People found burning garbage at these points will invite a fine of ₹5,000, those found dumping malba will be fined ₹5,000 and those littering will have to shell out ₹500.

With people dumping garbage at these spots throughout the day, garbage is collected from these areas twice a day. MC commissioner Anindita Mitra said, “Ten garbage collection vehicles have been put in service to clean these areas.”

These points were also discussed during the MC general House meeting where both the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors raised the issue, and cited GVPs in Sector 46 and Burail.

Mitra said, “Through regular challaning and awareness camps we have managed to clean-up 16 GVPs, and our three-pronged strategy is being implemented at the remaining spots.”

The GVPs that have been cleaned, include areas near Sahatya Cancer Kendra in Sector 15-B, the parking in front of the RLA office in Sector 17, near the bus stop adjacent to Tagore Theatre in Sector 18A and near the PWD store in Sector 46..