Dumping garbage may cost Kolkata citizens up to Rs 1 lakh
Kolkata, Nov 23 : Citizens may have to shell out a maximum fine of Rs 1 lakh for littering in public places, as the West Bengal Assembly passed a Bill to enhance the penalty for offenders.
The penalty has been raised through an amendment to section 338 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (second amendment) Act which was passed in the Assembly Thursday.
The move comes after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her displeasure after finding out the newly inaugurated Dakshineswar skywalk was stained with betel juice.
The Bill proposed to impose a minimum fine of Rs 5,000 and a maximum penalty of Rs 1 lakh fine on litterbugs.
The earlier law stipulated that minimum penalty for dumping garbage was Rs 50 and the maximum fine was Rs 5,000.
It also came on a day, state Urban Development Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim was elected the new mayor of Kolkata after the exit of Sovan Chatterjee, on the directions of Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee.
Banerjee had formed a 11-member committee on Wednesday to check spitting and littering in public places. Hakim said, he will take up a major awareness drive to keep the city clean.
A senior citizen, who did not wish to be named, said "The city had earlier failed to impose a fine of Rs 50 for littering, I am not sure how effective it will be this time."
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Man accused of gambling dies in 'police custody' in Tumakuru, CID probe ordered
Tumakuru (Karnataka), Mar 20 (PTI): A 50-year-old man, who was allegedly picked up in connection with a gambling case, died after collapsing within the premises of a police station here, police said on Friday.
With the family of the deceased person, Kantaraju, expressing suspicion over the death and alleging 'torture' by the police, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has ordered a CID probe into the incident.
A senior police officer said Kantaraju from Yalanadu village in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk, was brought to Huliyar police station on Thursday for questioning in connection with a gambling case.
"He was questioned in connection with a gambling case and served a notice. While leaving the police station, he suddenly collapsed and died within the compound of the premises," he said.
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The exact cause of death is yet to be ascertained, police said, adding that a post-mortem has been conducted.
A judicial magistrate inquiry into the incident is underway, he added.
The incident triggered protests by villagers inside the police station premises demanding accountability.
Superintendent of Police Ashok K V has assured appropriate action against any police personnel found responsible.
State Home Minister G Parameshwara told reporters in Bengaluru that he has decided to hand over the case to CID.
"I spoke to the SP, he said it was not a case of lock-up death. The person died... what has happened is not yet known. I have decided to handover the case to CID. Things will be clear from the CID probe if he was beaten or anything else has happened. It will also be known to an extent from the postmortem. CID will probe into the entire incident and give a report, based on which we will take necessary action," he said.
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