AMC plans to raise penalty structures

Littering,illegal water and drainage connections,use of electric motors for drawing water,wasting water in public,mosquito breeding,illegal hoardings and banners besides eight different offences. However,experience so far has showed that corruption has effectively blunted the cutting edge of the rules. Imposition of fines through mobile court has had its limited reach and therefore,limited impact.

The haste with which the proposal was brought before the standing committee as urgent agenda item was misplaced,said committee chairman Bhupendra Patel. “It was a proposal forwarded by the municipal commissioner but I allowed a discussion because I did not want to discourage the administration,” he said.

Patel said he was yet to make a detailed study,weigh (political) pros and cons and understand the structure and advisability of its implementation. “Therefore,we have deferred a decision on it for the next meeting of standing committee,” Patel said.

He said other aspects like the misuse of penal provisions by enforcing officials and the impact of heavy fine amounts on the not-so-well-to-do sections of the society would also be studied before taking a final stand on the municipal commissioner’s proposal which “is well intended but will have to be viewed in its totality”.