Bhutan declares war on littering

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

Thimphu's litter problem has grown in recent years

Bhutan has passed a law to prevent littering and pollution in the kingdom's capital, Thimphu.

A city official said the law would promote the "three R's - reduce, recycle and reuse".

It lays down stiff punishments for littering and the illegal dumping of waste in and around the capital.

Planning experts say that if the law is successfully implemented, Thimphu could become one of the cleanest areas in South Asia.

No dumping

The Thimphu Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules and Regulations 2007 were passed last week.

Burning waste, urinating and defecating within the city limits of Thimphu can now lead to fines of up to 20,000 ngultrums ($450).

If children drop litter, the parents may be fined

The unauthorised dumping of soil and hazardous waste can attract similar fines.

Throwing litter on the streets may invite a fine of 100 to 500 ngultrums.

"We needed a legal framework for waste management and we have it now," Ugyen Dorji, of the Thimphu City Corporation (TCC) said.

"This will promote the concept of three R's - reduce, recycle and reuse - and implement an effective penal system for offenders."

Mr Dorji said the TCC had already appointed 10 environment inspectors to implement the new rules and regulations. Ten more would be appointed soon.

"They will be on duty for 12 hours from nine in the morning on all days except Sunday," Mr Dorji said.

"We expect them to go around the city and watch out for any violation of the law."

If children are caught littering , parents will have to pay the fines.

"These are perhaps the most strict urban waste management regulations anywhere in South Asia ," said urbanisation specialist DC Pandit.

However, TCC inspectors say the regulations will not be easy to implement.

Thimphu now generates about 35 metric tonnes of waste every day, compared to 11 metric tonnes in 2002, when the city's area was expanded significantly.

Bhutan will hold elections to its national parliament for the first time next year in a transition towards a working democracy in keeping with a roadmap laid out by the former king, Jigme Singye Wangchuk.

His son, Jigme Kesar Namgyal, now sits on the throne but he will become a constitutional figurehead under the new system.