Chhatrapur: The first phase of waste management programme in panchayats in the state will start in 153 panchayats by September 30 this year.
The state government’s drive follows the National Green Tribunal’s directive that all the panchayats in Odisha should commission waste management by March 31, 2020.
In this connection, 10 panchayats of Ganjam district have been shortlisted for the first phase. These are: Chamakhandi of Chhatrapur block, Malad of Ganjam block, Nandika of Hinjili block and Langaleswar, Pathara, Kanheipur, Keshpur, Krushnasaranpur, Kairasi and Bikrampur of Khallikote block.
According to sources, the state government will collect Rs 10 per month from each family towards waste management. Similarly, commercial organisations shall have to pay Rs 100 to Rs 500 under three different slabs. Moreover, hostels, lodges, banks, police stations, government and private offices, hospitals, educational institutions shall pay Rs 500 per month.
Likewise, the residential schools and colleges, marriage mandaps, haats, bus stands, railway stations and public meeting organisers shall pay a waste management levy of Rs 2,000 per month.
On the other hand, use of plastic, polythene and other non-biodegradable items and dropping garbage in wrong places will invite penalty of Rs 100 to Rs 400, including other punishments. The hostels, lodgings, restaurants, food and meat vendors shall pay penalty of Rs 1,000 and above for any such violation.
Small and medium industrial units shall pay a penalty of Rs 400 to Rs 1,600 if they violate the norms, whereas marriage halls and large-scale industries will pay a penalty of Rs 4,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively.
Notably, a sitting in this regard was held at the Chhatrapur DRDA Conference hall Saturday. The Executive Engineer of Water and Sanitation Department Pratap Mohapatra, State Consultant Ashwini Pattanayak, Assistant Project Director DRDA Rabi Narayan Tripathy, and other officials were present in the sitting.
PNN