New Ordinances prescribe heavy spot fine for littering public places in Kerala
The Hindu
Laws amended as part of the ongoing garbage-free Kerala campaign; If the violators fail to pay the fine, it will be added to public tax arrears, as per the Kerala Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 and Kerala Municipality (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 promulgated last week.
Violating waste management rules will now attract a maximum fine of ₹50,000 and imprisonment of up to one year under the laws amended as part of the ongoing garbage-free Kerala campaign.
If the violators fail to pay the fine, it will be added to public tax arrears, according to the Kerala Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 and Kerala Municipality (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023 promulgated last week.
The Secretary, Local Self-Government, has been empowered to enforce punitive measures and impose fines after hearing the violators by giving notice. The secretary is also empowered to assign duties to the officials of the local bodies to take necessary measures for waste management. The fine imposed by the secretary against dumping in public and private land has been increased to ₹5,000.
The secretary can spend an amount not exceeding ₹2 lakh from the related fund to carry out the duties assigned to him by informing the president.
M.B. Rajesh, Minister for Local Self-Government, described the amendments as a significant initiative taken up as part of the Malinya Muktha Keralam campaign. “It has placed more responsibilities on waste generators and increased the level of fines that can be levied on them for failure to do so,” he said.
“Penalties should be heavy to serve as a deterrent against the potential environmental and public health damages to strengthen the sustainable future of the State.”, he said.
The local bodies are duty-bound to implement government orders concerning waste management. The ordinances also allow the government to impose fines on the local self-government bodies if they do not follow the instructions. Citizens providing information about littering will be rewarded to ensure the involvement of the public and make them aware of its importance.
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