Garbage dumped near the government bus stand in Muzaffarpur. Picture by Gopi Raman

Muzaffarpur Municipal Corporation (MMC) has decided to slap a fine of Rs 500 on shopkeepers and house owners for dumping garbage on roads outside their business establishments and residences.

The decision was taken at a meeting between municipal commissioner Amarnath Mishra and district magistrate (DM) Santosh Kumar Mall on Thursday.

The commissioner is touring a ward a day to assess the situation. The town has 49 wards. He has directed the circle inspectors to slap a fine of Rs 500 on house owners and shopkeepers who dump garbage and waste materials outside their houses and nearby roundabouts.

The MMC has issued a directive to Nidan, a civic agency engaged in removal of garbage, to clean the city at night. House owners and shopkeepers have been asked to throw garbage into dustbins.

Municipal commissioner Mishra told The Telegraph: “After necessary consultation with the DM, the civic body has decided to impose fine on house owners and shopkeepers who throw garbage outside their houses and business premises. This gives a nasty look and the garbage stinks, particularly in monsoon.”

The MMC has also decided to lodge FIRs against those people who fail to pay the fine. Civic personnel, including circle inspectors, will now move around with a book of fine receipts. The corporation has started a public awareness campaign regarding the measure. The decision of lodging the FIR and slapping fine would be effective from July 8.

The commissioner said the FIR would be lodged against errant persons under Section 228 of Bihar Municipal Act, 2007.

The 49 wards of MMC had been bifurcated into eight sectors for effective control and implementation of the act under the supervision of the corporation manager (civic system), Rajesh Jha.

The corporation has reviewed the objections of senior superintendent of police Rajesh Kumar to lift the garbage during the day. The officer has written a letter to the municipal commissioner and the district magistrate to intervene and stop the removal of garbage in daytime as it affects traffic movement.