Itanagar: The Itanagar Bench of the Gauhati High Court has directed the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) to impose fines on those who throw garbage on roads and create or aggravate solid waste pollution in the city under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
IMC Mayor Tame Phassang said the court issued the directive to the corporation after hearing a PIL filed by activist Takam Diring regarding unplanned solid waste management within the IMC jurisdiction.
The court also sought the incorporation of provisions in the municipal bye-laws and any other law for imposing a fine on the people who have been identified to have thrown garbage on the road and created or aggravated solid waste pollution in the city.
The mayor said a joint meeting with the departments and officers concerned was accordingly held on Friday at the IMC office according to the directive of the court.
In its order, the court directed the head of the town planning and urban local bodies department, deputy commissioners of Itanagar Capital Region and Papum Pare district, IMC commissioner and the mayor to sit for a joint meeting within a week to make an endeavour to ensure that the IMC takes necessary action according to the prescribed rules.
“We welcome the PIL due to which the IMC has to implement the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. However, we want equal participation from the public to keep the city clean,” Phassang said.
The fight against garbage is permanent and only public participation can solve the issue, he said, reiterating that two solid waste management plants are being constructed at Karsingsa and Chimpu.
Expressing concern over the solid waste management in a few rural areas under the capital region, he said the department of town planning will soon issue an order for the IMC to operate in the rural areas adjoining the capital region.
We appeal to the Panchayat leaders to create awareness on cleanliness in their respective villages and cooperate with the IMC to make the capital clean and green, Phassang said.
