Yellow bus cracks down on smokers, litterbugs

AHMEDABAD: Mehul Parekh was smoking with friends outside Parimal Garden unaware that a sanitary inspector was stalking him. The inspector cornered and herded him in a yellow bus. He was presented before a judge in the bus and asked to pay a fine of Rs 50.
Offences such as smoking in public, spitting on roads, wasting water and throwing rubbish are proving costly for Amdavadis, thanks to the mobile court that started functioning from June 4.
Sanitary inspector Amit Shah said, "We get around 100 cases every day. Most often offenders include shopkeepers and stall owners who don't have licences approved by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and people caught littering.
The court is in a yellow AMTS bus manned by a magistrate and clerical staff of two with 10 inspectors assisting. There is also a prisoner van for people who refuse to pay the fine. The court has proved to be a success in dealing with issues like cleanliness. The most filthy areas in west zone have been identified as slums in Vadaj and Paldi and Vasna area.
Inspectors have uniforms with mobile court written on them as well as identity cards. Fines are imposed for smoking, littering (waste construction material as well), urinating in public, running illegal slaughterhouses (particularly those dealing in beef and mutton) as well as running shops without licences. Fines range from Rs 200 to Rs 7,000.
Patrolling goes on from 9 am to noon. After a break, it resumes at 3 pm and ends at 6 pm. Sanitary inspector Raghuvir Pandya said, "We have five sanitary inspectors and four sub-inspectors to deal with offenders. Shopkeepers blame customers for leaving rubbish around. My aim is to make people aware of how important it's to keep your city clean."