SDMC to fine owners of vacant plots dumped with garbage

In an attempt to check the spread of diseases, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has decided to impose fines up to Rs 5,000 on owners of vacant plots dumped with garbage in unauthorised colonies in the Municipal Corporation area. 

The Standing Committee of the Corporation on Tuesday approved the proposal of fine on owners of vacant plots in unauthorised colonies which were used as garbage dump contributing to spread of diseases. “Following the Swachh Bharat Mission, it had been decided to clean the city but it was found heaps of garbage and debris at vacant plots. When they were asked to remove materials, plot owners refused to do so. Now, we have decided to impose fine for not complying with the order,” said Radhe Shyam Sharma, chairman of Standing Committee.

The SDMC officials said the decision will be strictly implemented in both authorised and unauthorised 

colonies from the plot owners if their vacant plots were found dumped with garbage. The fine could be between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000. 

“It has been noted that people purchase cheaper plots in unauthorised colonies and then leave it vacant for long periods. Others start dumping garbage on it which risks spread of diseases. 

Now, the Corporation has started identifying such plots and asking their owners to clean them up as soon as possible,” said a senior official.

The official added that proposal for penalty on vacant plot owners for allowing garbage dumping was moved in the environment committee of the Corporation earlier, following which the move was initiated. 

“As sanitation and healthy environment is the responsibility of the Municipal Corporation, action against such plot owners was suggested by the environment committee. After getting the go ahead, we have decided to create teams of MCD staff to check violations and fine accordingly,” he said. It has also been noticed that when locals approach the ward councillors with complaints of garbage on vacant plots, they are unable to do much in this regard.