The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) plans stringent measures to punish people who litter and throw waste in public places in the metropolis.

KMC Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya announced this plan in Kathmandu on Thursday. The measure aims to change people’s habit of throwing garbage anywhere and everywhere.

“The capital city has turned ugly, now the metropolis will not spare anyone who throws garbage and litters roads and pavements. Those who violate this rule will have to pay fines,” said Shakya.

The city authorities have started a cleanliness awareness campaign in all wards. Volunteers from schools and colleges are helping spread this message of keep-your-city clean.

The Solid Waste Management Act, 2068 (2011) gives authorities the right to punish people who litter public places with a minimum of Rs500 to Rs 100,000 fine(s). They could also face three-month jail term, according to the rule.

The Metropolis Executive Officer Dhaniram Sharma said, the metropolis has already informed residents, through the media and door-to-door campaign, not to throw garbage in public places.

“We have not slapped fines on those who litter up to now, but from now on we shall fine them as per the law,” said Sharma.

City authorities have made several civic cleanliness campaigns in the past in a bid to keep the metropolis clean. However, people continue to throw garbage everywhere.

Last December, the KMC Environment Division Chief Hari Bahadur Kunwar, Chief District Officer Kedarnath Sharma, and SSP Rabindra Bahadur Dhanuk, Chief at the Metropolitan Police Range had jointly announced to curb littering in public places through door-to-door awareness campaign in the first phase, and arrest violators and slap fines in the second phase.

“We have already completed three months of awareness campaign, now those who litter will face penalties as per the law,” said Kunwar.

The metropolis is working closely with Nepal Police to stop the bad habit of littering public places.

Officials at the KMC said the metropolis would also install CCTV surveillance cameras at major junctions to identify people who throw waste in public places.