Bhubaneswar: The next time you think of burning any solid waste materials in the open, be prepared to shell out hefty fines.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has decided to slap Rs 5,000 in fine if you are caught setting afire small amount of garbage in the open. The amount for those burning bulk waste could be a whopping Rs 25,000.
The state pollution control board has fixed the fine amount, while the civic body will be the implementing agency for collection of penalty from the violators. The pollution control board has issued a public notice to inform the people.
"The National Green Tribunal has issued a direction for the state government to follow which we have issued the public notice in the newspapers and on our website. We held meetings with the civic body and fixed the fees. It will be implemented rigorously in the city," said a pollution control board official.
Sources said the civic body would form a special enforcement squad to nab such violators. "The bylaws under the new solid waste management rules are ready and the fine for different categories of litterbugs has been fixed accordingly. Burning of garbage in the open is one such violation under the rules," said a civic body official.
Environmentalists say that burning garbage in the open affects the ozone layer and contribute to air pollution since harmful chemicals like dioxide and furan, a toxic and carcinogenic compound, are released in the air. These chemicals and compounds damage the ozone layer in a big way.
"It is important to stop the practice of burning garbage in the open. There is a proper way to dispose of garbage and burning is not one of them. Burning wastes lead to a major air pollution and affects living beings," said environmentalist Sailabala Padhi.
Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena said at a recent consultative workshop on waste management rules scientific management of various kinds of waste was discussed at length.
"The Centre has notified six new rules that have provisions to levy fines on violators. We will prepare a roadmap and implement the rules in letter and spirit," said Jena.
