Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Intense competition among private coaching classes and educational institutions to attract students has led to widespread distribution of promotional pamphlets, which are often discarded on roads, creating visible litter across the city.
With the aim of attracting students for the summer session and the new academic year, various coaching institutes have been distributing advertising leaflets. However, students are seen tearing these pamphlets and throwing them on the streets, resulting in large amounts of paper waste scattered across roads.
Taking action, a team of ex-servicemen (Nagarik Mitra Pathak) from the municipal corporation’s solid waste management (SWM) section identified the concerned coaching classes and imposed penalties. Over the past three days, the “NMP” squad has carried out enforcement action.
There was NEET on Sunday (May 3) afternoon. Hence pamphlets were found spread on the roads in large numbers. On May 4, a fine of Rs 17,000 was collected for littering roads with pamphlets of schools and coaching classes. On May 5, action was taken against many reputed classes and a college for spreading waste through advertisements. Besides, penalties were imposed on those dumping construction material on roads and failing to segregate waste, collecting Rs 14,500 in total.
On May 6, the squad imposed fines of Rs 5,000 each on two classes. The operation was carried out by a team including Dashrath Bhise, Murlidhar Sahanae, Fakirrao Wakhale, and Vishnu Kakde.
The SWM section has warned that commercial marketing materials must be properly managed to prevent defacement of the city and to maintain cleanliness. It further said that strict action will continue if such violations persist.