CM Punjab Okays Rs 50,000 Fine for Dumping Animal Waste in Streets, Neighbourhoods

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Saturday chaired a videolink meeting to finalize comprehensive cleanliness arrangements across the province for Eidul Azha and approved a Rs50,000 fine for individuals found disposing of animal waste in streets and residential neighborhoods.

The meeting was also briefed by Provincial Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafiq and Secretary Local Government Mian Shakeel Ahmad.

CM Maryam directed the establishment of vigilance squads to prevent and monitor the dumping of remains and garbage at prohibited places, alongside a comprehensive public awareness campaign to discourage the practice.

She also ordered special cleaning and monitoring of drains, canals, and other public spaces in every city, and directed that cleanliness be ensured in private housing societies, railway colonies, and cantonment areas during Eid.

Special arrangements have also been ordered for the cleaning of 2,687 prominent commercial markets across Punjab. Maryam emphasised, "one government unit to work together for cleaning."

Further, CM Maryam announced "rewards and appreciation for high cleanliness, and punishment and penalties for complaints." According to the briefing, the cleaning of commercial markets, main highways, and intersections would be carried out in the last watch of Chand Raat, with degradable shopping bags provided for the disposal of animal remains and garbage.

The briefing also noted that an additional 15 loader rickshaws, each, would be deployed in municipal corporations and tehsils, and four in each union council.

At the CM's direction, rose water spray would be used at Eid prayer congregations and mosques across the province. Suthra Punjab staff will carry out door-to-door waste collection, with the teams active before Eid, on the day of the festivities, and through the third day. The teams will also be making public awareness announcements regarding cleanliness via rickshaws. Meanwhile, a total of 176,000 sanitary workers and over 8,000 temporary workers will participate in the province-wide Eid cleaning operation. Over 40,000 additional vehicles, including loader rickshaws, mini dumpers, tractor trolleys, and pickups, will be deployed across Punjab for the Suthra Punjab operation.

According to the briefing, some 3,800 primary collection centres would be established for animal remains and garbage, with 3,100 designated dumping sites and 7,000 dumping points to be set up across the province. CM Maryam directed that all collection points and disposal sites be cleared by the third day of Eid.

Special cleaning arrangements will also be made at 1,200 sites for collective sacrifices, while Suthra Punjab teams will remain deployed at 285 cattle markets and 171 sale points across Punjab. Special cleaning of graveyards will also be carried out before Chand Raat.

Further, the availability of dewatering machines, jetter sets, and suction units will be ensured for drain cleaning, with a total of 4,500 special camps set up across the province for the Suthra Punjab Eid operation.

Finally, control rooms will be established in the offices of relevant deputy commissioners, the managing director (MD) of the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), and municipal corporations, with a system to obtain information from 11 different sources for the resolution of cleanliness-related complaints. Citizens may also contact the Suthra Punjab helpline at 1139.