GVMC seals 58 shops for dumping waste, imposes ₹4.36 lakh in fines

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has sealed 58 shops and imposed penalties totalling ₹4.36 lakh for dumping waste on roads and in public places, following special inspections across its 10 zones.

The enforcement drive was launched on the orders of GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg, who instructed zonal commissioners and public health officials to take strict action against shops and commercial establishments violating sanitation regulations.

Mr. Garg said maintaining cleanliness and sanitation across the city is a top priority for the civic body. He directed officials to enforce the prescribed regulations and take action against establishments found dumping waste in public places.

According to the Commissioner, officials conducted 80 inspections across the 10 zones. Of the establishments inspected, 58 shops were sealed, while penalties were imposed on another 22 establishments without sealing them.

In the Bheemili zone, for instance, two shops were sealed and penalties totalling ₹40,000 were imposed. In Madhurawada, 16 shops were sealed, with penalties totalling ₹94,000. The East zone reported 14 sealed shops and penalties of ₹43,000, while eight shops were sealed in the North zone, with penalties totalling ₹55,500.

The Commissioner urged shopkeepers and commercial establishments not to dump waste on roads, in drains or in other public places. Instead, he advised them to store the waste in dustbins and hand it over to Clean Andhra Pradesh (CLAP) vehicles every day.

In a post on X, the civic body said the Commissioner also directed officials to ensure efficient waste collection from residential and commercial areas, strengthen CLAP vehicle operations and streamline collection trips.

During a field inspection along Allipuram Main Road, covering Wards 32, 33 and 34, Mr. Garg ordered the sealing of a shop found to be dumping waste in the open and imposed a penalty of ₹25,000, the post added.