Premium

Dhols at the doorstep: Chandigarh beats litterbugs at their own garbage game

Civic body returns dumped trash with full musical score, slaps Rs 13,401 fines as Manimajra neighbours film and report offenders

3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Nov 17, 2025 08:02 PM IST

Accompanied by drummers, enforcement staff marched to their homes, confronted them, returned the dumped trash, and issued on-the-spot penalties. (Source: Express Photo)

Two families in Manimajra received an unusually loud wake-up call on Monday when Chandigarh Municipal Corporation officials arrived at their homes with dhol-nagaras, not for a celebration, but to return the garbage they had dumped in public and hand them challans of Rs 13,401 each.

In what the civic body is calling its first “name-and-shame” initiative against littering, officials said the drive was triggered by neighbours who filmed the offenders tossing rubbish in open spaces and shared the clips on the MC’s publicised WhatsApp number.

Video captured by neighbour throwing garbage at public place; another showed a man discreetly dropping a packed bundle of waste at a public spot, until a neighbour’s camera caught him in the act.

Accompanied by drummers, enforcement staff marched to their homes, confronted them, returned the dumped trash, and issued on-the-spot penalties. “This approach aims to instil a sense of responsibility, and, deliver a dose of embarrassment to habitual violators,” said Sanitary Inspector Davinder Rohilla, who led the operation.

The two offenders belong to Ward 5 (Mori Gate) and Ward 6 (Gobindpura) of Manimajra.

The first-of-its -kind campaign launched on Monday encourages residents to photograph littering, upload the images and location on the Municipal Corporation app, and let the civic staff take it from there. After verification by the area inspector, challans are issued. To boost participation, the MC is offering Rs 250 to anyone whose report is verified.

Officials said Manimajra residents are already responding enthusiastically, with people “vigilant and technologically empowered” enough to upload evidence of violations instantly. Safai Mitras also joined the drive, underscoring the civic body’s push to make Chandigarh cleaner in the run-up to national cleanliness rankings.

Story continues below this ad

The MC has urged residents to use only designated collection vehicles and to segregate waste properly. “The public is alert now, and strict penalties will follow,” an official said.

‘Don’t embarrass people, tell them quietly’

But not everyone is convinced. Senior Deputy Mayor Jasbir Bunty criticised the public-shaming model. “Don’t embarrass people; tell them quietly not to throw garbage in the open,” he said.

“If we want Chandigarh to climb higher in cleanliness rankings, this is not the way. I condemn the decision to go to their homes with dhol-nagaras. Officials should simply advise them politely. This decision should be taken back.”

Whether the dhols stay or go, the civic body appears determined to keep the noise up, at least around littering.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
chandigarh

Loading Taboola...