Mangalore: Ban on Spitting MCC's Next Effort Towards Spic-and-span City
Vineeth Monis
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore
Mangalore, Nov 27: The MCC seems to be taking up the task of creating a clean and green Mangalore on a war footing. After ban on use of plastic bags and door-to-door garbage collection plans, the administration is now looking into other ways of ensuring a spic-and-span city.
If all goes as planned, a much-needed law against spitting in public places may soon come into force.
Speaking to Daijiworld, MCC commissioner K Harish Kumar said that the proposed plan of imposing fine for spitting will be put forth in the next council meeting. "Once the plan is accepted by the council, it will be sent to government for approval," he said.
Harish Kumar said that a penalty of Rs 100 will be fined for spitting in public places as per the provisions given in Karnataka Municipal Act of 1976.
Further details on the proposal will be given once it is approved, he said.
The move comes under a series of other proposed plans under the 'Nirmal Mangalore' by-laws. Even littering and urinating in public places will attract fines under these laws. The fines may vary from Rs 100 to Rs 1000 and even to Rs 20,000 in case of commercial setups, depending on the nature of violation. Every house will be responsible for keeping its surroundings clean and tidy, and failure to do so will again attract penalty.
The ban on spitting in public places is a much-needed move, feel the citizens. True, people are hooked to chewing tobacco products and it is difficult for the government to change habits of the people all of a sudden. But in the absence or lack of civic sense, the administration hopes to coax people into becoming environtment-conscious citizens.
It is a shame to see roads, walls and bus stops in the city painted in red by tobacco and paan chewing people who have no qualms about spitting wherever and whenever they like. Walking on the streets without watching where your feet land has become literally impossible.
Educating and setting up awareness programmes will help people gain a deeper understanding of this initiative and will in turn help to maintain Mangalore clean, said a resident of Bejai, when asked his reaction to MCC's new proposal.
When asked about the benefit of the proposal, Harish Kumar stated that Mangalore being a beautiful city must also be projected as a clean city. "In order to achieve this, Mangaloreans must support the initiative and maintain hygiene standards by helping the authorities," he added.
One can only hope that MCC's efforts do not just stop at making laws. Without strict implementation laws will not serve any purpose.
Towards Cleaner Mangalore: