Daily Times

LAHORE: Following the Punjab Safe City Project, the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) may also keep an eye on garbage-throwing citizens in city, Daily Times has learnt. According to sources, the LWMC has shown keen interest to use CCTV cameras – installed in the provincial metropolis – under the safe city project. In this connection, LWMC Managing Director (MD) Bilal Mustafa Syed has met the Punjab Safe City Project head, where he wished to use the facility to which the official denied, saying that their first priority was to control crime incidents. He, however, said that the proposal might be considered in future. Sources said that the LWCM did not want to control littering in the city but also wanted to monitor field officers’ performance. Another factor which could be in the mind of the LWMC head honcho is that the company might generate more revenue in term of fine collection from those found involved in garbage dumping at unspecified sites. “The LWMC has decided to exercise its powers of taking notice and initiating action by imposing penalties on citizens over violation of solid waste management rules,” sources said. According to statistics, the LWMC has raked in Rs 2.23 million as fine money in this regard. Meanwhile, as per the powers bestowed upon the LWMC by the City District Government Department, citizens throwing garbage in front of shops, offices, factories and streets or roads could be fined Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 depending upon the nature of the violation. According to latest statistics, the second largest populous city in the country is producing 2,098,625 tonnes of waste yearly.