Littering will cost you dear

Keep at least Rs 500 handy the next time you decide to treat public places as restrooms. The Delhi government is all set to notify an anti-littering law which will fine people for offences like spitting, urinating, littering in public places. The last date for receiving public opinion and objections to the law is July 20.

Keep at least Rs 500 handy the next time you decide to treat public places as restrooms. The Delhi government is all set to notify an anti-littering law which will fine people for offences like spitting, urinating, littering in public places. The last date for receiving public opinion and objections to the law is July 20.

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The government has also hiked the fines proposed by the civic agency earlier.

However, the initiative of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi(MCD) to garner reaction of Delhiites on the proposed law has fallen flat as out of the 17-million population only 10 have expressed their opinion. The proposed law was put on the MCD's website a month ago.

"Had we implemented this law without seeking opinion of the masses, they would have criticised us heavily. But now hardly anyone has bothered to give their opinion. We will now send the proposal to the Delhi government for approval," said an MCD official.

Under the proposed anti-littering law, spitting, defecating and bathing in public places would invite hefty penalties from the municipal inspectors who would penalise people on the spot. The fine would vary between Rs 200 and Rs 2,000. At present, the MCD can only issue fines of up to Rs 50. For instance, people who let their pets litter the street will now have to pay Rs 1000.

"We felt that the fines proposed earlier by MCD were too meagre to act as a deterrent. We had sent the proposal back to the MCD for making the changes and taking opinion of the people. Once they send it back to us we will notify it," said A.K. Walia, finance minister, Delhi government.

"Earlier, our complaints against those accused of littering the place were sent to the magistrates. However, it was a long-drawn procedure and in many cases it was hard to penalise the guilty. But now the guilty persons will be penalised on the spot," added the official.