PIMPRI, 9 NOV. The Nuisance Detection Squad of the Pimpri Municipal Corporation (PMC) has intensified action against individuals found dumping construction debris into rivers and drains, using plastic, throwing garbage in the open, and burning waste. A total of Rs 1 crore 90 lakh 43 thousand has been recovered as fines from 3,776 citizens and establishment owners, and charges have been filed against six individuals.
Violations that have been observed include: dumping construction debris into the Pavana, Indrayani, and Mula rivers, and natural streams; disposing of garbage on footpaths, roads, and open spaces; discarding household waste, bagged, into streets and drains; spitting in public; public urination; failure to clean up after public gatherings; defacing public property; commercial establishments not maintaining dustbins; mixing biomedical waste with general waste or dumping it in the open; burning garbage; using banned plastic; accumulating garbage in open spaces; creating mosquito breeding grounds; and small-scale industrialists or factory owners releasing untreated chemical wastewater directly into rivers.
The Municipal Corporation appointed two private agencies to enforce these rules. Their four teams have been operating round-the-clock in the city since October 2024.
Executive Engineer Harvindersingh Bansal of the Environment Department reported that one agency's team has collected a fine of Rs 1 crore 8 lakh 27 thousand 990 after taking action against 2,685 citizens and establishments. The second agency's team recovered a fine of Rs 82 lakh 15 thousand 70 from 1,091 citizens, bringing the total collected fine to Rs 1 crore 90 lakh 43 thousand 60.
Regarding the financial arrangement, the Municipal Corporation provides the private agencies with 60 percent of the revenue generated from the fines, while the remaining 40 percent is deposited in the PMC's treasury.
Sanjay Kulkarni, Chief Engineer of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, confirmed that action is being taken against those dumping debris in rivers and drains and throwing garbage in the open. After imposing a fine, the concerned individuals are provided with an official receipt from the Corporation and are educated about the importance of not repeating the violation. He added that the Corporation maintains control over the agency teams, ensuring action is strictly limited to genuine rule-breakers.
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