Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation slaps Rs 1 lakh fine on shops for sanitation violations

In a strong enforcement move early Tuesday morning, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Sulochana Das imposed fines amounting to several lakhs of rupees during a sanitation drive in Unit–4 Fish Market and its surrounding localities.

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The fines were levied during on-ground cleanliness inspection aimed at curbing unhygienic practices and illegal waste dumping. ‘Swaad Sadan Premium Restaurant’ and ‘Bhaina Hotel’ were fined Rs 1 lakh each for violating sanitation norms in the area.

Similarly, ‘Unitech Auto Workshop’ and a ‘Reliance Fresh’ outlet were penalised with a fine of Rs 1 lakh each for dumping garbage behind their premises. The civic body also imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh each on ‘Goal Institute’ (an educational institution) and ‘China Garden’, an A/c restaurant, for failing to maintain cleanliness standards.

Mayor Sulochana Das stated that strict action would continue against establishments that compromise public hygiene. The civic body also emphasised that maintaining cleanliness is a collective responsibility and warned that violators would face stringent penalties.

“Some of them have encroached on government land and are discharging filthy water into the drains. They are also dumping garbage near their establishments instead of giving it to the civic body,” the BMC Mayor said to mediapersons.

“The conservancy lane has been completely blocked. Hotel and motor garage facilities are discharging the leftover food and dirty water into the nearby areas. We carried out a mass cleaning drive in the locality today,” the Mayor stated.

Besides, Mayor Das also expressed dissatisfaction over empty liquor bottles discarded in a BMC park in the locality. “Residents should be aware of cleanliness,” she added.

Worth mentioning, the residents of Kalinga Vihar (K-6) in the State Capital had raised serious concerns on November 21 over the persistent dumping of garbage along the roadside, alleging that foul smell and unhygienic conditions had made daily life increasingly difficult.

Locals had claimed that despite repeated complaints, BMC had been taking no corrective action. Taking to the roads, they had resented the civic body’s alleged inaction.