In Morbi town, people made to clean road if caught littering

RAJKOT: Those littering the roads in Morbi town will not only have to pay fine, but also clean the garbage themselves. This is what the civic body of the erstwhile princely state has decided in a bid to make the city clean before Diwali festival.
The Morbi municipality began this special drive from Saturday and on the first day six traders of the main market were asked to clean the garbage they had thrown on the roadside.
Civic body officials said that it was observed during routine surveys that a few traders on Sanara road threw garbage on the road once the sanitation worker had cleaned it.
On Saturday the civic body officials asked traders to clean the road themselves.
Talking to TOI chief officer of Morbi municipality Girish Saraiya said, “It has been often observed that people litter the roads soon after our workers clean it. We have now decided to make those littering the road clean the filth themselves. If they refuse to clean the garbage they will be warned and fine accordingly.”
“Our current focus is on commercial areas and complexes which will witness huge rush due to the festive season,” added Saraiya.
Jayesh Gwalani, a readymade garment shop owner on Dr. Takhtasinji Road said “One of my new staffer made a mistake and threw the garbage on the road. So, I did the cleaning and also paid a fine. But the action of the municipality was an eye-opener. The drive by the civic body has forced traders to buy eight dustbins for the market for garbage collection.”
The civic body usually collects Rs 200-500 fine for littering on roads. But from Saturday, it has been decided that if anyone is found throwing garbage on road, the local sanitation worker will approach him along with a civil body official and provide the culprit with a broom to clear the garbage.
Currently, 39 vans are involved in door-to-door garbage collection. The citizens are required to segregate wet and dry waste, which is later dumped at the Rafaleswhar dumping site.
Morbi, which was a part of Rajkot district, became a separate district in 2015. This city is known for its historic places like Mani Mandir, Jhulto Pul and Wanakner palace. It’s famous around the world for its ceramic and clock manufacturing industries.