GHMC gets tough on littering, slaps over 10,000 challans with over Rs 2 crore penalities

Hyderabad: Dumping garbage on roadsides or in public spaces could now cost residents a hefty fine, as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has intensified enforcement against littering and illegal waste disposal across the city.According to data, the civic body collected fines ranging from about Rs 75,000 to Rs 1 lakh every day from violators. Between April and Dec last year, more than 10,000 challans were issued, with fines totalling around Rs 2.34 crore issued for littering and waste dumping across the city.This enforcement was carried out using the Comprehensive Challan Management System (CCMS) mobile app. This allowed officials to issue fines for 11 different types of violations, including littering, commercial establishments not maintaining waste bins and improper disposal of construction and demolition waste.Following the GHMC's implementation of the system, two other civic bodies — the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) and the Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) — also adopted it to strengthen monitoring and enforcement. "Like the GHMC, the MMC has started imposing daily penalties on those who violate sanitation rules, with the aim of keeping neighbourhoods clean and preventing the dumping of waste on roadsides," said a senior official in the MMC's sanitation wing.While sanitation officers and assistant medical officers of health (AMOHs) could track challans and pending payments via detailed reports, citizens received text messages with instructions on how to pay their fines. Monitoring waste disposal often relied on information from residents and eyewitnesses. Officials also monitored individuals who habitually discarded household waste in areas prone to becoming dumping grounds.To address this issue, special surveillance teams were deployed to areas identified as vulnerable to garbage dumping. These teams observed activities in order to catch offenders. In addition, CCTV cameras were installed to help identify and take action against those involved in illegal dumping.Meanwhile, the GHMC, CMC and MMC were working together to improve sanitation as part of the ongoing 99-day programme. This initiative aimed to improve the cleanliness of the city by maintaining main roads, internal streets, parks, lakes and govt offices, and ensuring a cleaner and healthier urban environment for residents.Eliminate GVPs: GHMC commissionerGHMC commissioner RV Karnan directed officials to prioritise the elimination of garbage vulnerable points (GVPs) and ensure that C&D waste was removed promptly, without allowing it to accumulate in public spaces.During a surprise field inspection in Tukkuguda on Sunday, Karnan reviewed the progress of ongoing cleanliness and waste management works. He interacted with field officials and sanitation staff to assess the implementation of sanitation measures at the grassroots level.