Taking serious note of mid-day’s report on a vehicle-mounted litter-picking machine releasing dust and worsening pollution on the Eastern Express Highway, the BMC has issued a notice to the contractor and imposed a Rs 20,000 fine.

Kiran Dighavkar, deputy municipal commissioner of the Solid Waste Management Department, said, “We have issued a notice to contractor Sumit Facilities Ltd, directing them to immediately explain why the litter-picker machine was releasing dust into the air while cleaning the main and service roads of the Eastern Express Highway in S ward. A penalty of Rs 20,000 per day has been imposed for two days under Clause 8 of the contract, which specifies fines for lapses and defaults. Further action will be taken under BMC’s air pollution rules if such violations continue.”