A file image of garbage on the side of the road
Guwahati, July 8: In a bid to improve sanitation and enforce civic discipline, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has notified a comprehensive list of sanitation-related offences and introduced spot fines for violations across the city under its "Spot Fine Schedule for a Cleaner, Healthier & Greater Guwahati" campaign.
The civic body said the initiative aims to encourage citizens to follow sanitation rules and work collectively to keep Guwahati clean and beautiful.
The notified offences include littering, illegal dumping of waste, public urination, open defecation, spitting in public places, burning of waste, and the use of banned single-use plastic items.
According to the notification, violations involving banned plastic carry bags or prohibited single-use plastic items will attract a spot fine of Rs 500, while spitting in public places causing environmental or public health nuisance will invite a penalty of Rs 300. Littering, illegal dumping of waste, public urination and open defecation will attract a fine of Rs 500.
The civic body has prescribed higher penalties for more serious violations. Illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste on roads, public places or residential and commercial areas and illegal disposal of faecal sludge or septage will attract fines of Rs 2,000 each, while disposal of chemical waste within GMC limits and pasting posters on government walls, drain fencing, electric poles, bridge pillars and other public structures will invite a penalty of Rs 5,000.
The highest fine of Rs 25,000 has been fixed for blocking the natural flow of water in drains by dumping materials.
Other offences covered under the notification include improper disposal of biomedical waste, e-waste, sanitary waste and other non-biodegradable waste in the open or failure to hand them over to authorised collectors, dumping fish, poultry or slaughterhouse waste in the open by commercial establishments, disposal of animal excreta in public places without cleaning it, dumping waste at parks, tourist places and other scenic locations by roadside or cart vendors, damaging or interfering with municipal water supply and sewerage infrastructure, dumping waste, littering or burning waste in rivers, drains, wetlands and other water bodies, and illegally dumping trees and plants on roads, drains, water bodies or other public spaces.
The notification also states that improper disposal of biomedical, e-waste and sanitary waste will attract a Rs 500 per day penalty until the waste is handed over to an authorised collector. Dumping fish, poultry or slaughterhouse waste in the open by commercial establishments and dumping waste or burning waste in rivers, drains, wetlands and other water bodies will each invite a Rs 1,000 spot fine.
Issuing the public notice, the GMC urged citizens to follow sanitation rules and cooperate in keeping the city clean. The civic body said the spot fine mechanism has been introduced to ensure better compliance with waste management norms and promote a cleaner, healthier and greater Guwahati, while reminding residents to "Follow the Rules. Avoid the Fines."