108 litterbugs fined Rs 1 lakh in GHMC's clean drive
![The GHMC has designated April 26 and April 27 as Fines Day. The GHMC has designated April 26 and April 27 as Fines Day.](http://dc-cdn.s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com/dc-Cover-fatshu83866segffgbibp33p12-20160427025206.Medi.jpeg)
Hyderabad: Those littering the streets, throwing plastic on the roads, or indulging in open defecation are being slapped with a fine by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. In a drive against such law violators, the GHMC has collected, in a single day, a total of Rs 1.04 lakh from 108 violators in the twin cities, an official stated here on Tuesday.
The GHMC has designated April 26 and April 27 as Fines Day. Its commissioner ordered all the zonal officers, deputy commissioners and assistant medical health officers to observe Wednesday as the first Fines Day, wherein all litter throwers, those illegally putting up banners and posters, or throwing plastic on the road would be fined.
Additional Commissioner — Health and Sanitation N. Ravi Kumar said, “This is the first time that this kind of a drive has been initiated. We will continue this every month. The fine starts from Rs 100 for open urination, littering (based on the quantity) up to Rs 20,000, especially targeting the wholesale outlets disposing of plastic waste on roads.”
On Tuesday, various retail and wholesale outlets were fined between Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 and the same will be done on April 27. If such actions caused pollution to the surroundings, legal cases will be registered against the violators.
When asked if additional staff would be deployed for the special drive on the Fines Day, the official said all the zonal officials and deputy commissioners along with health and sanitation wing officials will be in action. This will continue every week.
The themes for the Fines Day would keep changing as well. They would include drives against encroachment, throwing of construction debris on roads etc.