BJP leaders demand ban on challans for littering

New Delhi: The BJP councilors in party-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation has raised voice against civic bodies decision to issue challans for poor sanitary condition in the national capital. The councilors on Saturday knocked the door of their party president Manoj Tiwari demanding immediate ban on the challan drive saying this would cost them dear in the coming Lok Sabha polls. They also informed Mr Tiwari that the shopkeepers in their areas too have been protesting against the drive. The NDMC direction to issue challan residents for littering and violation of other sanitation bylaws was issued citing a Delhi high court’s order to prosecute at least five violators by every sanitation inspector in the city.

The BJP councillors said that in order to the meet the target the inspectors are forcibly issuing challans leaving locals angry. “There have been cases when a particular household has been challaned repeatedly. Councilors being the first interface with the local people have to face the heat. This is going to affect us badly,” said BJP councilor, Maneesh Chaudhary from Vijay Vihar ward.

Another BJP councillor from Haiderpur ward, Sujit Thakur alleged that sanitation inspectors have been targeting people.  “Just when people keep the garbage out of their houses for MCD workers to lift it, a challan is issued,” said Mr Thakur.

BJP councilors alleged that their attempt to speak to the NDMC commissioner turned futile. “Issue gets complicated as the challans are issued on the spot, but people have to travel all the way to the office of the nearest municipal magistrate to deposit the fine,” they added. On April 23, the Delhi High Court had directed that all zonal supervisory staff must issue at minimum five challans every day on the persons who contravene or fail to comply with the rules.

Mr Tiwari told this newspaper that the sanitation inspectors must focus on ensuring cleanliness in the city but setting a target of challans is unjust. “I have spoken to the municipal commissioner in this regard. The sanitation inspectors should not be compelled to issue challans and this order must be immediately withdrawn,” Mr Tiwari added.