Chandigarh, March 12: The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has launched a first-of-its-kind initiative allowing citizens caught violating Solid Waste Management Bylaws to undertake community sanitation work in lieu of paying financial penalties. This program, subject to official approval, aims to foster public participation in urban cleanliness while addressing the needs of those with genuine financial constraints.
Under the newly established system, offenders may apply for a relaxation of their challans by submitting a written undertaking to the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) wing. Area health supervisors are tasked with assigning specific duties, such as sweeping or waste lifting, and monitoring the quality of the service. MC Commissioner Amit Kumar stated that the move is designed to sensitize citizens about the effort required to maintain city standards.
“The objective is not merely to impose fines but to sensitize citizens about the importance of maintaining cleanliness,” the Commissioner affirmed. He maintained that when violators engage in sanitation activities, they develop a greater sense of responsibility toward the environment. The initiative has already seen participation from residents in Sector 25 and Sector 8, who opted for community service after receiving fines exceeding ₹13,000.
Municipal officials declared that this is not an “easy escape” from penalties, as field staff must submit verified completion reports and photographic evidence of the work performed. The Commissioner asserted that the corporation continues to maintain a zero-tolerance approach toward illegal dumping and will use this integration of enforcement and service to strengthen the local Swachh Bharat Mission.
