Thiruvananthapuram: Violation of waste management rules will now attract a maximum fine of Rs 50,000 and imprisonment of up to one year under the laws amended as part of the ongoing garbage-free Kerala campaign. Minister for Local Self-Governments M B Rajesh on Monday (December 11) said according to the Kerala Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, and Kerala Municipality (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, promulgated last week, if the violators fail to pay the fine it will be added to public tax arrears.
The minister said in a release,
The fine imposed by the secretary against dumping in public and private land has been increased to Rs 5,000.
The Local Self Government Department, in a release, said the secretary has been empowered to enforce punitive measures and can impose fines after hearing the violators by giving notice.
Mr Rajesh said,
Violating waste management rules will attract a maximum fine of Rs 50,000 and imprisonment of up to one year under the laws amended.
The secretary is also empowered to assign duties to officials of the local bodies to take necessary measures for waste management, the release said.
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Mr Rajesh described the amendment of laws as a significant initiative taken up as part of the ‘Malinya Muktha Keralam’ campaign.
The amendment has placed more responsibilities on waste generators and increased the level of fines that can be levied on them for failing to do so. Penalties should be heavy to serve as a deterrent against potential environmental and public health damage to strengthen the sustainable future of the state.
The minister said the ordinances also allow the government to impose fines on the local self-government bodies if they do not follow the instructions.
It is the duty of the owners and occupiers of shops to keep their premises clean, the release said, adding the local authorities can confiscate vehicles used for improper disposal of garbage or excrement.
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Fines or penalties, corporate social responsibility contributions or sponsorships and others prescribed by the government should be deposited into the Waste Management Fund to be created.
The local bodies can utilise the funds for waste management-related activities and to increase productivity, it added.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which in its Season 10 is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Ayushmann Khurrana. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In a world post COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental well-being, self-care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
