Hailakandi, May 14: The Silchar Municipal Board will constitute a special task force to keep an eye on open defecation in the municipal area, its chairman Niharendra Narayan Thakur said today.

He said they will check the riverbanks as people generally use these areas for open defecation. "The Board has held discussions with its elected members and will impose fines up to Rs 500 for open defecation," he said.

To keep the municipal area clean under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Centre had issued notices to the state government on fines for open defecation, Thakur added.

The Union urban development ministry has asked the state governments to amend their municipal laws to incorporate provisions for spot fines, penalties or cleaning charges from people caught defecating in the open.

It has also suggested similar changes in the state laws to fine people caught littering.

In a recent circular to the chief secretaries of all states, the ministry asked them to enforce such provisions in the municipal wards that are declared open-defecation free and litter-free. It has asked the state governments to ensure that the provisions cover all municipal wards by October next year. It has advised that the municipal commissioners or any authorised officer can levy the fine, penalty or charge from violators.

Tamal Kanti Banik, the former chairman of the Board, criticised the imposition of fines because there is a shortage of public lavatories in Silchar town.

Sajal Das, a resident of Silchar town, hoped that the initiative will help people understand hygiene.

The Cachar district administration has set an October 2 deadline for next year to complete the initiative through implementing the Vellore model.