SMC fines 18 people for open dumping under “Name and Shame” policy

SHIMLA: Shimla Municipal Corporation’s (SMC) flagship policy to deal with garbage dumping, “Name and Shame”, has finally been brought into use as 18 people, who were caught dumping garbage on CCTV cameras installed at major “garbage hot spots” in the city, were booked under the scheme. Under the solid waste management rules, any resident who is found dumping waste in the open can be fined Rs 500. Shopkeepers, owner of a restaurant, hotel or a marriage hall is liable to be fined Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 5,000 each, respectively.

Eight persons were caught violating the rules at a children’s park in Sanjauli and six at Panchayat Bhawan near local bus stand on the Cart Road.

Some residents accused the SMC’s garbage collectors of dumping the waste on the hill sides after sweeping the streets in many wards of the city. However, two sweepers recorded a video of two persons dumping garbage in the open at Kanlog.

Pankaj Rai, Municipal Commissioner said that they did not pay fine on the spot. “Some of them were challaned and will face trial in the judicial magistrate court. We have issued notices to others as to why they should not be fined or booked under the rules for dumping garbage in the open,” he added. The commissioner also said that the garbage collection had improved in the city as they had made it mandatory for each household to collect waste and give it to the garbage collectors visiting their houses. SMC has estimated that Shimla generates around 80-90 tonnes from all of its 34 wards out of which the civic body collects about 60-70 tonnes daily and dispose it of in the waste-to-energy plant at Bharyal, said MC officials.