Garbage on plots: Owners to be fined

Bengaluru: If you own a vacant plot, then you have three days’ time in which to clean up clutter, clear any debris which might be there and weed the plants on your empty property. If you don’t, you may end up paying a fine for every square foot of your plot. You could even face police charges.

In a circular to all the zonal commissioners, BBMP commissioner G. Kumar Naik has instructed the ward engineers and health inspectors to crack the whip against plot owners who are not maintaining cleanliness in their vacant plots.

A press statement said that under the KMC Act, the commissioner can give instructions to fence a property, level green fences or reduce the width of such fences if they are disrupting traffic movement and if they pose a threat to vehicle users.

Subsequently, notices will be sent to all the plot owners to clear garbage, debris if any and to weed plants. Also, notices will be pasted at the plots and photos will be clicked. The BBMP will levy a penalty of Rs 2 per square foot on owners who do not clear garbage and debris in the next three days.

“The rule is applicable to all, even those owners who are settled abroad,” said the BBMP. If owners consistently fail to respond, the BBMP will lodge complaints in the local police station against them and take action as per the rules of the KMC Act.

Dengue menace

Meanwhile, Mr Naik instructed the Health officials to levy fines on owners of under-construction buildings where fresh water had accumulated. Against the backdrop of the increasing number of dengue cases, the BBMP is taking measures to prevent the spread of the disease.