T’puram: Karakulam panchayat, which has been aggressively pursuing Clean
Killiyaar Mission, has started slapping fines on those who dump
garbage on the roadside. Besides a fine of Rs 10,000 on defaulters, the panchayat has also started handing over the cases to police for further action.
Following this, cases were registered against three people, including a woman, so far.
The woman, identified as Manjusha, hailing from Rajaji Nagar in the city used to collect waste from city homes, wrapped it in plastic covers and took an auto all the way to Karakulam and dumped it on the side of the road.
Auto driver Saju Satyan, who resides at Muttathara, was also taken into custody. Aruvikkara SI Nitheesh V S said that cases under sections 120 E of KP Act and section 269 of IPC which pertains to negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life have been registered against the offenders.
The panchayat has been able to garner sponsorship from locals to establish a surveillance network in the area.
“The place where the woman dumped waste has four cameras, sponsored by a resident. The server room was set up in a nearby shop and the petrol pump owner who installed the cameras would daily check the footage, copy the files and hand it over to the panchayat. We would then file a complaint and submit it to police with documentary evidence which helps police to take quick action,” said Karakulam panchayat health standing committee chairperson Chithra S.
“People often take panchayat fines lightly and hence we are forwarding all such cases to police for further action,” she said. TNN
KILLING A LIFELINE