Rs 5000 fine for vacant plots with garbage

To keep a vigil on the spread of diseases, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation has decided to impose fines up to Rs 5,000 on owners of vacant plots dumped with garbage in unauthorised colonies under its jurisdiction.

The SDMC standing committee has approved the proposal of fine on owners of vacant plots in unauthorised colonies which were used as garbage dumps contributing to the spread of diseases, an official said.

The decision will be strictly implemented in both authorised and unauthorised colonies if vacant plots were found dumped with garbage. The fine could be between Rs 500 to Rs 5,000, the official said.

People purchase cheaper plots in unauthorised colo-nies and then leave them vacant for long periods. Others start dumping garbage on these, leading to spread of diseases, said the officer.

The proposal for penalty on vacant plot owners for allowing garbage dumping was moved in the environment committee of the corporation. When locals approach the ward councillors with complaints of garbage on vacant plots, they are unable to do much.