SDMC to fine owners of vacant plots dumped with garbage

In a step to check spread of diseases, South Delhi Municipal Corporation has decided to impose fines up to Rs 5,000 on owners of vacant plots dumped with garbage in unauthorised colonies in the municipal corporation area.
The Standing Committee of the corporation has approved the proposal of fine on owners of vacant plots in unauthorised colonies which were used as garbage dump contributing to spread of diseases, an SDMC official said.
The decision will be strictly implemented in both authorised and unauthorised colonies from the plot owners if there vacant plots were found dumped with garbage. The fine could be between Rs 500 to Rs 5,000, said a senior municipal corporation officer.

It has been noted that people purchase cheaper plots in unauthorised colonies and then leave it vacant for long periods. Others start dumping garbage on it which risks spread of diseases, said the officer.
The proposal for penalty on vacant plot owners for allowing garbage dumping was moved in the Environment Committee of the corporation.
As sanitation and healthy environment is responsibility of the municipal corporation, so action against such plot owners was suggested by the Environment Committee, the officer said.
It has also been noticed that when locals approach the ward councillors with complaint of garbage on vacant plots, they are unable to do much.

"Since Standing Committee has approved fine, a requisite order will be passed soon giving effect to it and vacant plots used for garbage dump will be identified for imposing penalty on their owners," added the officer.