Nagpur: Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s much-touted crackdown on civic nuisances is yet to take off, with the file containing the revised fine structure and additional violations stuck in a bureaucratic tangle.The general body approved fines of up to Rs50,000 for some violations on Aug 20, expanding the number of offences covered by the penalty regime from 29 to 52. The move came after years of enforcement failed to curb civic violations. Since Dec 2017, citizens and establishments penalised for such offences have paid more than Rs42 crore in fines, yet garbage dumping, waste burning, spitting, encroachments and other nuisances remain widespread.A senior Solid Waste Management (SWM) official told TOI that the file remained untraceable for more than a month. The civic secretariat claimed it had forwarded the file to the General Administration Department (GAD) for implementation, while GAD officials were unable to locate it. The file was finally found in the secretariat a couple of days ago.Deputy commissioner, SWM, Rajesh Bhagat told TOI that NMC would implement the new offences soon. He, however, said the department would first examine whether the revised penalties could be enforced immediately due to the model code of conduct for the graduates’ constituency polls scheduled for Oct 23.Under the revised structure, the fine for dumping garbage on roads or public places will rise 900%, from Rs100 to Rs1,000. Small shops, hotels and institutions will face a Rs2,000 fine, while bulk waste generators will be fined Rs20,000.The revised framework also adds several offences, including encroachment on conservancy lanes and blocking access for sewer-line work, which can attract a fine of Rs50,000. BJP corporator Pradip Pohane had demanded action against such encroachments and sought penalties against cables allegedly strung on electric poles.Failure to segregate waste will attract fines ranging from Rs500 for citizens to Rs10,000 for bulk waste generators and resident welfare associations (RWAs). Dumping biomedical waste into garbage vehicles will attract a Rs10,000 fine, while repeat violations can lead to sealing. Hospitals violating waste-management norms can face fines ranging from Rs5,000 to Rs25,000 and criminal action.Construction debris stored in the open will attract a Rs2,000-per-day fine, while waste burning and illegal dumping through vehicles can invite penalties of up to Rs25,000.NMC currently has 128 Nuisance Detection Squad (NDS) personnel against 201 sanctioned posts. The civic administration has proposed adding another 100 civic cops, while the general body has already approved 60 additional NDS personnel.The revised regime also proposes fixing accountability within NMC, with civic staff liable for action where garbage-vulnerable points persist or civic premises remain unhygienic.
