CHENNAI: You know the situation is out of hand when the Chennai Corporation threatens to fine litterbugs.

With people in the city dumping garbage everywhere as if they are pathologically short of civic sense, the corporation on Tuesday issued a notice stating that it will fine people who dump garbage or building debris on the streets. The civic body will fine people Rs 500 for throwing garbage in public places. People who dump building debris in public places face a penalty of Rs 2,000.

The warning is welcome in a city where lack of hygiene poses a health risk, but note that the corporation holds a dismal record in enforcement of rules. Also note that when Saidai S Duraisamy took charge as mayor on October 25, 2011, said he would make Chennai like Singapore. If you're expecting a cleaner city, don't hold your breath.

Residents and environmentalists are also sceptical about whether the corporation can enforce the rule and if the fine will actually deter people from littering. They point to Chennai ranking 61st among 476 cities in the Swachh Bharat rankings that the ministry of urban development recently released.

R Vijayalakshmi, a resident of Kalakshetra Road, said she was surprised when civic officials handed her a pamphlet with the corporation notice on fines for littering.

“It's definitely a good move to fine people for littering but it is all depends on how the corporation enforces the rule,“ she said.

“The attitude of the public will change only through proper enforcement. How is the corporation going to monitor violations?”

Corporation officials said they are serious about implementing the rule across the city because of a rise in cases of fever reported from across the city.

“The intention is not to harass the public but to create awareness,” a senior corporation official said. “We are also taking stringent against the commercial establishments including builders and slapping them with hefty fines.”

But residents say the corporation has allowed garbage clearance and sanitation to go from bad to worse and has failed to take action against people who litter the streets or urinate and defecate in public.

The corporation deploys sanitary inspectors, who should be enforcing the rules, to oversee operations at Amma canteens.

“It's difficult to impose fines on residents as most of them refuse to pay fines,“ a sanitary inspector said. “There is also political interference as councillors fear they'll lose votes.”

Officials have penalised only a handful of offenders across the city's 15 zones. In contrast, several other metros have in recent times stringently enforced rules on littering.

