Ground report: To check diseases, DC orders clean up of vacant plots
In the absence of proper door-to-door garbage lifting, many vacant residential and commercial plots located in different areas have become a dumping ground for waste. During the monsoon, water gets accumulated in these plots making it a serious health concern as these places turn into a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The residents in various localities have expressed their dismay and concern over the issue which hardly gets the attention of the authorities concerned. They have approached the district administration to get these plots freed of litter.
Therefore, in order to contain the spread of diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya during this season, the district administration has ordered the owners of residential and commercial plot owners to clean garbage and remove stagnant water to prevent mosquito larvae from breeding during the monsoon.
This is perhaps for the first time that the Deputy Commissioner used magisterial powers vested in her under section 163 of Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) while directing the owners of these plots to immediately clean up garbage, dirt and stagnant dirty water.
Section 163 of BNSS deals with the powers of a magistrate to issue orders in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehension of danger. It allows a magistrate to direct a person to abstain from a certain act or take specific actions regarding property, if the magistrate believes it is necessary to prevent obstruction, annoyance, injury, danger to life or disturbance of public tranquility.
The order issued by DC Sakshi Sawhney said that garbage and dirty water keep accumulating in vacant plots owned/occupied by different persons at different places in the city, due to which many types of harmful insects and organisms are produced, which cause various types of diseases like dengue, malaria, chikungunya etc.
“These diseases are a serious and life-threatening threat to the health of the city residents. To prevent the spread of these diseases, it is necessary to clean these vacant plots. It is the responsibility of the owners of the said properties to get them cleaned,” she pointed out. She added that they should also ensure that a solid boundary wall or fencing is built around the vacant plot or the accumulation of garbage in the plot should be prevented.
The Deputy Commissioner also directed the Municipal Commissioner, Amritsar, and the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development), to ensure compliance of these orders in their respective jurisdiction.
She warned that violations would not be tolerated and offenders of the orders would invite penal and legal action against them, including individuals or institutions that cause harm to public health by not following the orders issued in public interest.
She also categorically pointed out that if the cleaning work of the plot is done by the Municipal Corporation or Municipal Council/Panchayat, then the cost would be borne by the occupier/owner of the plot. These orders would remain in force till further orders.
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Amritsar