NMC to fine citizens dumping leftover food at public places

Nagpur: Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B on Saturday said throwing away food waste carelessly will invite action as per MSW rules and Green Tribunal Act. “It is one of the reasons for increase in population of stray dogs,” he said.
“Recently, NMC imposed a fine of Rs50,000 on management of a hall in Ram Nagar for throwing food waste along the road,” Radhakrishnan told TOI.
The civic chief has appealed to citizens to either use the leftover food for making compost or hand it over as wet waste to NMC’s garbage collector.
If a person or organization is caught throwing food waste, NMC can levy fine up to Rs 1 lakh under Green Tribunal Act.
“NMC’s nuisance detection squad (NDS) has already intensified its drive against litterbugs and also keeping a vigil on blackspots where people not only throw garbage but also dispose of food waste,” said deputy municipal commissioner (SWM) Dr Gajendra Mahalle.
NMC officials said the number of stray dogs in an area depends on food availability there. The estimated population of one lakh stray dogs in the city means that there is enough food to feed them, they said.
TOI visited several localities and found that dogs feed on garbage dumped on the streets, food waste thrown by roadside eating joints and large-scale disposal of meat waste from slaughterhouses.
If NMC manages to control this illegal dumping of food waste, city’s stray dog population can be brought under control significantly.
Animal activists, however, fear that restricting availability of food waste may lead to death of stray dogs due to to starvation. “What needs to be deliberated upon is that it is practically difficult to bring a blanket ban on feeding or littering food as it is impossible to catch each and every feeder or those throwing leftover food on the road,” said animal activist Aparna Modak.
“Animal friendly people might refrain from lodging complaint and the dogs that will continue to breed in their localities. Assuming feeding encourages population growth, it gradually trickle down to neighbouring areas,” she pointed out.
“On the other hand, dedicated feeders (not random people throwing leftover food) can be sensitised to become a part of the solution by helping catch shy unfriendly dogs that dodge dog catching squad and getting them sterilised,” she said adding feeders can also play a role in yearly vaccinations.
Starving dogs can make them aggressive and they might try to snatch food packets from children. “Restricting feeders can aggravate the situation instead of mitigating it,” she said.