RWMC enforces fines, penalties under Clean Punjab drive to curb littering

RAWALPINDI, Mar 10 (APP):Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) has formally begun imposing fines and penalties on individuals and businesses for littering and poor waste management as part of the Clean Punjab Programme launched at the directions of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

According to the RWMC spokesman, under the enforcement measures, a fine of Rs 10,000 will be imposed on anyone found throwing garbage on streets or roads. The same penalty will apply for littering at government premises, while a fine of Rs5,000 has been set for littering at private places.

He said strict penalties have also been introduced for improper disposal of waste at residential, commercial and industrial premises. Industrial units will face a fine of Rs50,000, commercial establishments Rs25,000 and residents Rs10,000 for failing to properly dispose of garbage within or outside houses, shops, offices or factories.

Similarly, failure to keep areas outside homes, shops or factories clean will result in fines of Rs25,000 for industrial units, Rs15,000 for business centres and Rs5,000 for residents.

Dumping waste into drains and sewerage lines will attract fines of Rs50,000 for industrial units, Rs25,000 for commercial establishments and Rs10,000 for residents, the spokesman added.

Residents may also face a fine of Rs1,000, while others could be fined between Rs2,000 and Rs5,000 for failing to properly manage plastic bags and other non-biodegradable waste generated from homes, shops or agricultural land.

A penalty of Rs 50,000 has been fixed for dumping animal waste or remains at unauthorised locations.

Authorities further warned that burning tyres as fuel, which causes serious environmental pollution, could lead to a fine of up to Rs500,000, imprisonment of up to seven years, or both. Setting fire to garbage may also result in a fine of up to Rs500,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both.

Citizens have been urged to avoid littering and fulfil their civic responsibilities to prevent fines and penalties. They have been advised to hand over waste to sanitation workers or dispose of it in designated garbage bins.

The spokesman emphasised that public cooperation was essential for the success of the Clean Punjab Programme, urging residents to play their role in keeping their homes, streets and cities clean.