Rs 50 Fine For Defecating In Open: BMC

Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday decided to penalise and collect a fine of Rs 50 per offence, if a person is found defecating in the open by the local Ward Sanitation Committee or Self-Help Groups.

This step will work as a catalyst to make the city open defecation free (ODF) and the legislation by the urban local body is also a prerequisite in this regard, for the ODF tag.

BMC Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena also announced that to make people aware about the new legislation on collection of penalty, awareness camps will also be organised across the city to keep the city clean.

The corporation meeting was also attended by Culture and Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda, Deputy Mayor K Shanti, Municipal Commissioner Dr Krishan Kumar, Additional Commissioner Subham Saxena and senior officials from BMC, Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited, BDA, PHEO, PWD and other line departments.

While the proposal for collection of fine from persons defecating in the open was unanimously passed by the corporation, the corporators also expressed concern over mushrooming Kalyan Mandaps (community halls) across the city, which ultimately create traffic jam and additional burden on the civic body.

The corporation also decided to make a survey of all Kalyan Mandaps across the Odisha capital through the Planning Wing of BMC in association with all the Zonal Deputy Commissioners, Corporators and officials. 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.

As many as seven prominent water bodies inside BMC boundary will be restored with an investment plan of Rs 20 crore. While a DPR has already been prepared by an agency Multi Mantach, Odisha Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (OUIDF) will extend financial assistance in this regard.

The project will be funded through grant, loan and share from BMC in the cost sharing pattern of 45:45:10.

The water bodies to be covered under this restoration or conservation plan are Ananta Vasudev Purohit Pond Ward No-19, Ghagudi Pond Ward No- 23, Jagamara Barabari Pond Ward No- 63, Jhara Pokhari Ward No-62, Namrakani Pond Ward No-65, Taria Pond Ward No- 23 and Nayapalli Haja Ward No-37.

Drain de-silting and cleaning also featured in the discussion today.

“The rest of nearly 15 to 20 percent will be finished very soon as we have asked our drainage team to work on a war footing and make the drains and drainage channels free from any type of obstruction,’’ said the Mayor.

Panda asked the corporators to furnish the list of temples in their locality so that Rs 5 lakh per monument would be granted for their upkeep. He, however, clarified that the temples should be under public use and do not belong to private parties.

Municipal Commissioner Dr Krishan Kumar briefed about the progress of various projects under the Smart City Proposal. He explained at length about the Bhubaneswar Operations Centre, which would be the central command control centre for all city-based operations. He also spoke about the revamp in the pan-city public transport scenario, which would see radical changes before the World Cup Hockey in November.

Before the corporation meeting, BMC Standing Committee Chairman Election was held.