Siliguri garbage fine

TT, Siliguri, Aug. 23: The Siliguri Municipal Corporation will charge a fine from residents if they dispose garbage improperly. The decision was taken after a meeting of members mayor-in-council at the corporation yesterday.Sources in the civic body said the amount of the fine would be finalised after placing it at civic board's monthly meeting on August 31.

SMC sources said the objective of such a measure was to curb dumping of waste randomly in town by the residents. It would help conservancy workers keep the town clean and prevent the spreading of vector-borne diseases.

"Providing proper conservancy services has been a big challenge for the board since its formation last year. Things have become harder for us as there are many areas where people often dump waste on a vacant plots instead of garbage bins. Keeping this in view, we have decided that we will appeal to the residents to dispose waste in a designated place between 9am and 9.30am everyday. If anybody is found violating it, we will fine them," mayor Asok Bhattacharya said.

According to sources in the conservancy department, workers collect 3.5 tonne of waste from the 47 wards of the SMC everyday.

"We will monitor the waste disposal with help of conservancy workers and ward committee members," the mayor said.

"After the outbreak of dengue in Calcutta, some precautionary measures have been taken here. Conservancy staff and sub-assistant engineers have been instructed to visit different wards and find out if there is any under-construction building or vacant plot, where water is stagnant. Notices will be served to the land owner for necessary steps to clear the water immediately," Bhattacharya said.