"Disrupting water bodies non bailable offence": Kerala goes stringent on waste management laws

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], October 12 (ANI): The Kerala Government has given its approval for two ordinances- the Kerala (Municipality) Amendment 2023 and the Kerala Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 with the aim of achieving a goal of making the state solid waste free by 2024.
Briefing about the ordinances mooted by the Local Self Government Department, Kerala CPI-M leader MB Rajesh said: "The objective of this ordinance is to facilitate waste management efforts by the state government and local governments. The state Government has set a target of making Kerala solid waste free by March 30, 2024".
Rajesh said that stricter waste management laws will ensure better compliance on the part of citizens.
Referring to the changes in laws, the CPI(M) minister said, "Earlier the fine for putting waste on the streets was just Rs 250, which has now been increased to Rs 2000 and putting waste in water bodies has been made a non-bailable offence"
"For any public function which is attended by 100 or more people, organizers will have to see that the waste generated is maneged in accordance with the law and in order to ensure that they will have to take permission from the concerned local body and they will have to remit the fees decided by the local body," he added.
Improper disposal of waste in public places will attract penalty in Kerala as the Left government on Tuesday decided to bring in ordinances in an effort to make the state garbage-free by March 2024.
A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan decided to recommend the two ordinances to Governor Arif Mohammad Khan to achieve the state's goal. Thereafter, the two ordinances were later passed by him bringing in stingent punishment laws for littering waste in the state. (ANI)