Chennai: After Tiruvannamalai district was recognised for effectively implementing the rules of levying penalties on public nuisance including spitting in public places, washing clothes in water bodies and throwing garbage in the rain water-harvesting sources, residents of Pallavaram municipality have urged civic bodies to follow it.
Though Pallavaram municipality had announced to follow in the footsteps of other districts on maintaining cleanliness of public places, there was a divided opinion among authorities responsible for the collection of penalty.
“Though health inspectors and any local health authority have the authority to fine those who spit in public or throw garbage in water-bodies, neither public health workers, nor the civic authorities have taken any action against it. The Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act by the state remains far from implementation, while public health officials do not consider it their duty. Therefore, civic bodies should act against such activities,” said V. Ramaswamy, a resident of Pallavaram.
Though the state government can levy fines against spitting in public and throwing garbage in public places and water bodies under the Health Act, the law remains only on paper and is not enforced.
“Incidents of such public nuisance are common in Pallavaram municipality, but no action has been taken. We hope that once municipality acts on it, such public nuisance acts can be stopped,” said Gautham, member of a locally based NGO.
Residents opine that civic workers can collect the fine that is to be levied on spitting and throwing garbage in public places such as railway stations, bus stops and parks.
“As per the recent list of penalties for public nuisance, 22 offences are counted, which also includes Rs 10 penalty for spitting in public places, Rs 100 for washing clothes in the water bodies and Rs 200 for throwing garbage in the rainwater harvesting plants. The civic body workers will collect the fine in the locality upon the complaints of the residents,” said a municipality official.
