Guwahati News Desk: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has opened four WhatsApp numbers for people to post pictures of people spitting or littering the cityscapes. The Corporation has also announced a cash reward of Rs 1000 for such images.
The GMC step came after the newly opened Dispur flyover was littered by spitting pan on the paintings of its walls and pasting advertisement posters on its pillars. Earlier, the group of artists who had painted the entire flyover walls with images of the diverse culture and traditions of northeastern states appealed public not to spit and litter their artwork. However, the littering continued.
GMC commissioner Devasish Sharma addressing the media on Tuesday said, “Around 5 percent of the citizens here have been found to be littering in the city. They spit pan and throw garbage everywhere. We have fined some of them with Rs 5000 earlier but this section of people continues to be littering the city.”
Sharma said that it’s impossible to control such people and a set of rules and regulations have to be enforced strictly. “We will register FIRs against these people if needed under our GMC law. We have also decided to open helplines where people can post pictures of violators and their addresses. We will reward the complainant with Rs 1000,” the Commissioner announced.
The WhatsApp numbers issued by GMC were 8811007000, 7399003001, 7399003002, and 7399003004 where denizens can post pictures of offenders. The GMC authority has also ordered the various groups and agencies who have pasted posters at public places without the Corporation’s permission to remove them within 15 days or to face legal actions.
Sharma added, “We are going to slap a fine of Rs 1000 upon the violator for the first violation. But if the person repeats the offense then he or she will be slapped with a higher penalty.”
