Littering fine, plastic ban from Sept 1: Min

Darjeeling: Across Bengal, state minister Agnimitra Paul said strict restrictions on littering and the use of plastic in public places would come into force from Sept 1. On Sunday she announced a major cleanliness and waste-management drive across the Darjeeling hills, including a minimum Rs 100 fine for littering from July 1."Violators will face heavy penalties. Tough action will also be taken against spitting in public places and illegal parking," she said. Speaking after a series of meetings at Uttarkanya in Siliguri and later in Darjeeling with officials of the Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik municipalities, Paul said garbage disposal, legacy waste, water supply, road infrastructure and traffic congestion were among the key issues discussed on Sunday. "Every Bengali loves Darjeeling. It is one of our most loved hill stations. We have to keep it clean," she said. The minister also said that every household, hotel and commercial establishment in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Mirik has been given seven days to begin segregating wet and dry waste.