Swachh Bharat: Modi govt issues SOPs, event organisers to pay up for trash left after public meet

Aimed at preventing littering at public places during and after an event, the government has issued standard operating procedures under which the organisers of events at such sites will be held accountable for ensuring cleanliness. The organisers will also be required to pay security deposit for obtaining permission for holding events. The standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the Urban Development Ministry comes as part of its Swachh Bharat Mission to ensure cleanliness during and after public meetings and gatherings across the country. Under the SOPs, organisers of such events will have to provide dustbins and toilets at the venue of the events to prevent littering of left-overs and other used articles at public places. [caption id=“attachment_2077187” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  PM Narendra Modi launched the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on 2 October, 2014. PIB[/caption] Organisers will be held accountable for ensuring cleanliness and they will be required to pay security deposit for obtaining permission for holding events. The decision will be implemented with immediate effect and communication in this regard has been sent to all the states, the ministry said in a statement. In case of default by the organiser, municipal bodies concerned will undertake cleaning operations using the deposit money, as per the new norms. The ministry has taken a serious note of spoiling of public places through littering of water bottles, left-over food items, used flowers, packaging material, wrappers etc during public gatherings and meetings besides non-provisioning of public conveniences adversely affecting the hygiene in the surroundings. Under the new norms, organisers will have to furnish an undertaking for ensuring cleanliness and have to deposit money to be used in case of default by them. Security deposit to be made will be Rs 10,000 for a gathering of up to 500 persons, Rs 50,000 for 50,000 persons and Rs 1,00,000 for over 50,000 persons. Permission will not be given by the agencies concerned if security deposit is not made. The organiser shall ensure adequate garbage collection bins and adequate public conveniences as per the norms indicated at his own cost through agencies designated by the municipal body or through his own alternative arrangements. Adequate number of cleaning staff should be deployed to ensure proper cleanliness of the premises. The organiser shall ensure handing over of clean site to the owner of premises within six hours after the conclusion of the event. For events to be held on public or open spaces not earmarked for gatherings, where permission is taken directly from the police, organiser shall furnish the said undertaking and security deposit to the police. PTI