Traders, shopkeepers to face punitive action for flouting cleanliness norms

Hailakandi, November 1: Viewing seriously cases of littering by a section of traders and shopkeepers in areas falling under the jurisdictions of Hailakandi Municipal Board and Lala Town Committee respectively, the Hailakandi district administration will go in for punitive action against them, even to the extent of cancelling trade licenses, stated a press release.

Deputy Commissioner Moloy Bora said though the administration had time and again asked the shop owners of commercial establishments, transport, merchant and traders’ associations to keep the towns of Hailakandi, Lala and other places filth-free by adhering to proper disposal methods, a section of them have been openly flouting the directive. “Cases of violations of directives issued from time-to-time by a section of traders and owners of commercial establishments with impunity cannot be allowed to continue any further. The district administration will come down heavily even to the extent of termiting trade licenses if they do not mend ways,” he added.

In a latest order (copies of which were sent to secretary, president and chairman of transport, merchant and traders’ associations) the administration has made it categorically clear that any shops and commercial establishments not adhering to the administration’s directive will be forced to down shutters.

Deputy Commissioner Bora said the administration could not be a mute spectator to instances of dumping of garbage on the roads and roadside leading to pollution of the environment. “The administration has more teeth to act tough against the offenders as different rules and Acts are in force viz., the Bio-Medical Waste, 1998, the Municipal Solid Waste Magement, 2000, the Batteries Magement and Handling Rules, 2001, the Hazardous Waste Rules, 2008, the Plastic Waste Rules, 2011 and the E-waste Rules, 2011,” he said adding that the administration would not hesitate to close down any establishments violating the rules and Acts in force.

Appealing once again the traders and owners of commercial establishments to maintain cleanliness, Bora said, “Proper steps will be initiated by them to dispose of waste through use of dustbin and garbage bag and hand over the same to the municipal and town committee sanitation workers during the morning rounds.”

Meanwhile, the district administration has initiated a slew of steps to collect solid waste from door-to-door in Hailakandi municipal and Lala town committee areas. Deputy Commissioner Bora pointed out that the ward commissioner would ensure collection of solid waste from each and every household and commercial place. “In a video conference with the Chief Secretary, we have assured him that the collection of solid waste in urban areas will be made fully functiol by the ward commissioners and that the rules and Acts relating to solid waste magement will be strictly enforced by the urban local bodies,” he asserted. Bora has asked the Executive Officers of Hailakandi Municipal Board and Lala Town Committee for compliance of the solid waste rules and Acts by the Urban Local Bodies, failing which discipliry action will be initiated against them.