Thimphu Thromde has started implementing the Waste Prevention and Regulation 2012 from today. Penalties will range from Nu. 100 and can go up to Nu. 20,000.To mark the day, Thromde officials led by the Thrompon took part in a cleanup campaign.
The Thrompon, Kinlay Dorjee, said it is an important day for the Thimphu Thromde.“It is a big day for the Thromde. Today, as the start of the journey, we want to clean the areas in and around the city. We will inform all the people about the regulation and the penalties. We want to inform them that it is not just the Thimphu Thromde who is responsible in maintaining clean city. We want to make every individual responsible in managing their waste,” said the Thrompon.
Thromde staff walked in all corners of the city as far as Dechencholing and Babesa to collect waste. On their way, the staff educated people about the regulation. They also created awareness on the penalties that will be imposed for littering.
The Thimphu Thrompon is optimistic that the implementation of the regulation will help clean up the city in the next six months.“Our mission of cleaning the city will go beyond this day. I am hopeful that if we all work together we can clean up the city in the next six months. It is not just the Thromde inspectors who will be on duty. Henceforth, all the staff of Thromde will have ID cards where they can impose fines. So there will be many eyes watching waste. The general public will also be included if anyone sees someone littering even they can impose fines. No one can escape from us,” he added.
To make the regulation work better, stakeholders like the police, taxi and bus drivers are also involved during the campaign.