Mohali, August 22
It seems that a cleaner town is not on the priority list of the Municipal Council here. The council has failed to act on the Punjab sanitation and public health bylaws even after two years of government directions to civic bodies to implement these.
The issue of the adoption of the Punjab Municipal (Sanitation and Public Health) Bylaws, 2003, was put up twice at the General House meetings of the council during the past two years. However, no decision on actual implementation has been taken so far.
The council had cleared the proposal to adopt the bylaws at its meeting held on July 11, 2003. However, the Executive Officer of the civic body had said the council would have to first invite objections and suggestions from the public in this regard which would be presented in the House for discussion.
The response to the proposal from residents and welfare organisations was poor. The issue was once again put up at the General House meeting held on May 31 last year. A decision was kept pending as municipal councillors had failed to give their suggestions and objections in writing.
The Executive Officer, Mr Har Bhagwan Garg, told The Tribune today that no municipal councillor had handed over his or her views in writing to him on the adoption of the bylaws during the past year.
He said the issue might be put on the agenda on the next meeting of the council.
Earlier, in response to the invitation of the council asking for suggestions on the issue, representatives of the House Owners Welfare Association, Phase I, had suggested that before the implementation of the bylaws the council should provided more garbage bins, garbage collection points and a place where people could put up posters.
They had said some villages fell in the town and there were a number of slum colonies where labourers lived.
Residents of these areas were creating unhygienic conditions in vacant spaces due to the lac of lavotories. The dairies in the villages should also be shifted out of the town, they had demanded.
The Environment Protection Society had suggested that lavotories and urinals should be constructed at various places.
It said separate dustbins should be provided for throwing cuttings after pruning plants.
Under the sanitation bylaws, proposed to be implemented in the town, no person will be allowed to defecate at any place except that specially earmarked for the purpose, spit in any place or building causing insanity conditions and annoyance to anyone or urinate at any place not earmarked or segregated for the said purpose.
The bylaws also do not allow any person to deposit/collect or dispose of any ‘malba’, garbage or any other waste material in the service lanes or on roads or any public place, including any drain.
No person will be allowed to use any house or shed or premises or any part there- of for human habitation, unless he has obtained sewer and water connections from the competent authority.
Further, under the bylaws no one will be allowed to deposit cattle dung from any village or cattles in public places/any city sector or container provided for the collection and removal of city garbage.
Bylaws also do any permit any waste water, except rain water of the household, to be collected on any or public place after cleaning or washing of any vehicle.
The bylaws
prohibit the scattering of paper or other litter, including cigarette butts and hand bills, in public places. Besides, nursing homes, slaughter houses and clinics will have to make provision for a suitable incinerator for the safe disposal of biomedical waste.
Whoever contravenes any bylaw can be punished with fine which may extend up to Rs 1,000.
In the case of continuing contravention or failure, the offender will be required to pay an additional fine which may extend upto Rs 500 per day.
Whoever fails to comply with the bylaws will be punished under Section 65 of the Indian Penal Code.
