AMC to rope in ex-servicemen to form nuisance detection squads

Aurangabad: Local civic body has decided to form Nuisance Detection Squads comprising of ex-servicemen to contain the public menace of dumping garbage in the open.
While such squads exist at a few other local self-governing bodies, it is the idea of Aurangabad Municipal Commissioner Nipun Vinayak.
He intends to rope in retired workforce from Indian Defence services to tighten the vigil against those who litter in the open.Besides open dumping, the squads will also keep an eye on effective waste segregation at the source. Spitting, open defecation and urinating in public places are some of the other tasks the squads are expected to execute.
As per the proposal, all nine zones of the city will have a squad each, comprising of nine ex-servicemen. Each of the nine squads will also have a cameraman to record evidence against errant citizens and establishments.
The civic body is expected to incur an expenditure of around Rs 2.21 crore for salary and conveyance of the ex-servicemen.
Vinayak, who has gone away on a week-long leave, was not available for comment. A senior civic official said the menace of dumping waste on streets and road dividers continues unabated despite spot-fines.
“Therefore, it has been decided to deal with unruly elements with an iron hand by deploying Nuisance Detection Squads,” the official said.
As per the proposal, every ex-servicemen will get a fixed salary of Rs 15,000 per month along with a certain share of money recovered from the penalty imposed. These personnel will be provided with special uniforms and equipped with four-wheelers to ensure fast mobility in each ward.
From August 8, citizens are liable to pay Rs 150, while hotels and other commercial establishments have to shell out Rs 500, if they are found dumping waste along the street or in the open. Bulk garbage generators such as large housing societies will have to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 for such misdemeanour. As per rules, designated ward officers, sanitary inspectors and sanitary jawans can charge spot fines from errant people.
Meanwhile, a section of residents and political activists from Harsul area staged a protest against the accumulation of garbage at the waste processing site in their area. They alleged that the garbage was lying there without being processed. Protesters blamed the civic authorities and elected representatives for spreading a stink in their area.