BMC Corporation for unanimous penalty on plastic ban violators

Bhubaneswar: The Corporation meeting today at Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) discussed many city-based things, but the ban on plastics/polythene and the penalty to be imposed on the violators, were discussed in details.
Officials, in-charge of the enforcement and ban informed the House that already various zonal deputy commissioners have started enforcement activities at various markets, public places and also vending zones including road-side eateries and restaurants.
The Corporation also approved the fine structure to be imposed for violations of the no-plastic notice/circular of the civic body in the wake of the State Government’s ban from October 2.
As per the notification of the Forests and Environment Department, Government of Odisha, dated of September 29, 2018, there was a grace period of 30 days and after that the three BMC squads have already started their action swiftly and also seized polythene/plastics at various places today.
FINE STRUCTURE
As per the Corporation approval for a household first instance fine is Rs 200, second instance Rs 500 and third instance is Rs 1,000. Criminal proceeding against a violator can be initiated after that.
For shop owners like street food vendors including sweets, snacks, fast food, icecream, sugarcane and other juice and vegetable vendors, carts and meat shops and those serving domestic customers and individual goods used in household consumption would attract Rs 500 for first instance of violation, Rs 1,000 for second, Rs 2,000 for third and criminal proceeding including cancellation of trade licence.
For restaurant owners the first offence penalty is of Rs 1,000, second Rs 2,000, third Rs 5,000 and criminal proceeding including initiation or cancellation of the trade licence. Similarly for hotels including star category facilities the first instance fine would be Rs 2,000, Rs 10,000 for second and Rs 50,000 for third instance. Criminal proceeding and initiation/cancellation of trade licence after the third violation could be initiated.
SINGLE GRIEVANCE & WHATSAPP NUMBER
The Corporation today decided that citizen can put their grievances with the Bhubaneswar Operations Centre Helpline No.1800 345 0061 (Toll Free) functioning in Smart City Office. For all types of complaints inside the BMC area citizens can now call this toll free number and lodge their complaints. They can also send their grievances to a WhatsApp number 8599071900.
In view of the Men’s Hockey World Cup scheduled to be held during months of November-2018 and December-2018 the Jan Sampark Divas shall remain suspended until further order.
The Corporation meeting today also discussed several issues including solid management, construction and demolition waste, road quality done by Sewerage Board after sewerage pipeline laying work, drainage channel renovation and streetlights.
The Corporation meeting at the BMC Hall was attended by Bhubaneswar MP Dr Prasanna Patsani, Minister Odia Language, Literature and Culture and Tourism Ashok Chandra Panda, Bhubaneswar MLA (North) Priyadarshi Mishra, BMC Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, Deputy Mayor K Shanti and Additional Commissioner Subham Saxena, among others. Senior officials from BMC, Sewerage Board, PWD, PHEO and other line departments of the State Government were present at the meeting.