Patiala News:District administration issues strict orders regarding cleanliness in the city

*Strict action will be taken against those who do not clean vacant plots from time to time – Deputy Commissioner*

*If cleanliness is not maintained after September 20, expenses and fines will have to be paid-Dr. Himanshu Agarwal*

Taking seriously the threat of diseases arising due to garbage, filth and stagnant rainwater in vacant plots within the limits of Patiala district, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate Dr. Himanshu Agarwal has issued strict orders under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Protection Code, 2023.

The Deputy Commissioner clarified that this action will not be limited to paper orders only. To ensure the cleaning of private and government vacant plots, senior officers will be assigned by the heads of the concerned departments and the action will be monitored. He instructed the concerned officers that all this work should be completed by September 20, 2026 in any case. If the cleaning work of any private plot is done by the Municipal Corporation or Municipal Council, Panchayat after the specified date, then the recovery of the cleaning expenses should be done from the owner of the plot and in case of non-recovery, an entry will be made in the revenue records.

According to the orders issued by the District Magistrate, the owners of vacant plots in Patiala city will have to immediately clean the garbage, dirt and stagnant water lying in the plots at their own level. Apart from this, it will be mandatory to have a permanent boundary wall or suitable fencing around the vacant plots, so that the plots can be prevented from being used as dumping grounds for garbage and public health can be protected from danger.

Dr. Himanshu Agarwal said that the accumulation of garbage and dirty water in vacant plots gives rise to mosquitoes and other disease-spreading creatures, which can pose a serious threat to the health of the common people. Therefore, any kind of negligence in this matter related to public health will not be tolerated. He said that for information about garbage in vacant plots, people can give information on WhatsApp number 959-200-3366 (only through message, photo or location)

According to the orders, the Commissioner Municipal Corporation Patiala and the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development) will ensure strict compliance of these orders within their respective jurisdictions. This action will be taken under the powers vested in them under the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2016.

Violators of these orders will be subject to fines and legal action under the said rules against the person or institution resulting in harm to public health.