Social activists for enforcing MC bylaws for cleanliness in cities
Social activists have demanded the strict implementation of Punjab Municipal (Sanitation and Public Health) Bylaws 2003 to make all villages and cities of Punjab, including Amritsar, free of pollution. In a letter written to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, office-bearers of the NGO Amritsar Vikas Manch, including Manmohan Singh Brar, Principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi, Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, president Harjap Singh Aujla and general secretary Surinderjit Singh Bittu stated that the Punjab Municipal (Sanitation and Public Health) Bylaws 2003 was enacted by the state government in 2003 on the lines of Singapore to ensure the cleanliness of cities. Apart from this, garbage cannot be dumped, nor can anyone dump debris and other dirt on roads, parks and streets. It is prohibited to wash cars on the roads and axe trees. Even during the cleaning of houses, water can’t be used to wash floors as it is prohibited under this law. Several other instructions and guidelines under the Act have not been implemented by the Punjab government even after 21 years.
Office-bearers of Amritsar Vikas Manch stated that this law applies to all types of municipal bodies, including villages. Just as challans are issued for traffic rule violations, challans should be issued to those who violate these municipal bylaws, only then will there be improvement in cleanliness, the activists said. According to this law, a fine of up to Rs 1,000 can be imposed. The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is issuing challans to those who dump plastic and garbage in the streets, footpaths, parks and create pollution. “The sanitary inspectors have been given body cameras which can make eight hours of video of the respective places. The Punjab government should also provide such body cameras to the sanitary inspectors. Our politicians and officers live in Chandigarh or often come and go to Chandigarh, they should also pay attention to this aspect so that our cities and villages can become clean and tidy,” said Charanjit Singh Gumtala, patron of AVM.
