DARJEELING: The Darjeeling municipality has started taking anti-pollution measures and announced a slew of penalties for littering, smoking and spitting in public areas to curb repeated offences. Since the imposition of the penalty, the civic body has fined at least four persons for smoking and spitting in public places.
Darjeeling municipality chairman Ritesh Portel said, "We had promised to prioritize cleanliness and sanitation when we formed the board. Our aim is to work for a better and cleaner town."
Portel said the Hills citizens had inculcated an unhealthy habit of throwing garbage in the open, as well as in the waterfalls and drains. "People also spit here and there, smoke in public places and clog drains and jhoras. We are concerned about this habit and intend to curb it," he said.
The municipality chairman said the problem is magnified in the town given Darjeeling is a tourist destination. "Garbage and dirty areas is an eyesore. Tourists are put-off and this can deter them from visiting again," said Portel.
He said the decision to impose fines was taken unanimously by the Board of Councillors. "The BoC comprises members of the ruling and opposition political parties. However, all members voted for and passed the resolution to levy fines on violators. We have made appeals and requests, but a majority of the population remains unaffected," said Portel.
Similar orders were implemented earlier, but failed to make an effect. "This time, a proper mechanism has been rolled out, the penalties for various offences have been put up at prominent places of the town," said a source within the municipality.
According to the new order, rule violators will be fined Rs 5,000 for encroachment of drains, Rs 5,000 for violation of garbage management rules, Rs 1,000 for littering, and Rs 500 for spitting or smoking. Single-use plastic has been banned.
The Darjeeling town generates around 35 tonnes of garbage each day, which is doubled in the tourist season. The civic body now has 12 vehicles to remove this garbage. "We will procure more vehicles soon," said the source.
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