The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday decided to penalise and collect a fine of Rs 50 from each person who would be found defecating in the open.
local Ward Sanitation Committees or Self-Help Groups would collect fines.
“This step will work as a catalyst to make the city open defecation-free,” said Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.
Jena also said that awareness campaign camps would be held in order to make people aware about the new legislation on collection of penalty across the city.
A decision to this effect was taken at a BMC meeting held here on Friday. Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda, Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, Deputy Mayor K Shanti, Commissioner Dr Krishan Kumar and Additional Commissioner Subham Saxena and senior officials from the Bhubaneswar Smart City limited, BDA, PHEO, PWD and other line departments attended the meeting.
While the proposal for collection of fine from persons defecating in the open was unanimously passed, the Corporators also expressed their strong view against the mushrooming of Kalyan Mandaps (community halls) across the city, which ultimately create traffic jam and additional burden on the civic body in lifting the solid waste.
The Corporation also decided to make a survey of all Kalyan Mandaps soon. The nature of plan approval given to a Kalyan Mandap (whether residential or commercial) and the violations made through parking and encroachment irregularities would be taken into consideration.
Seven prominent water bodies in the BMC area would be restored with an investment plan of Rs 20 crore. While a DPR has already been prepared by the Multi Mantach, the Odisha Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (OUIDF) would extend financial assistance in this regard. The water bodies are Ananta Vasudev Purohit Pond in Ward19, Ghagudi Pond in Ward 23, Jagamara Barabari Pond in Ward 63, Jhara Pokhari in Ward 62, Namrakani Pond in Ward 65, Taria Pond in Ward 23 and Nayapalli Haja in Ward 37. Drain de-silting and cleaning also featured in the discussion.
