Hyderabad: The GHMC has deployed secret squads across the city to identify and penalise vendors or organisations that put up posters on walls or otherwise contribute to dirtying the place.

The GHMC on Tuesday fined a company Rs 10,000 in Maithrivanam, Ameerpet for the offence.

Commercial establishments throwing garbage on main roads were also fined. So far, the GHMC has collected Rs 43.6 lakh by way of penalties. Fines were also imposed for burning garbage in open spaces, using plastic bags thinner than 50 microns and open defecation.

A warning has been issued to all advertising agencies not to litter roads.
GHMC Ameerpet circle deputy commissioner N. Sudhamash said the fine of Rs 10,000 was imposed on Sathya Technologies for distributing pamphlets which were being thrown on the main road.

A special drive will be conducted to remove unauthorised boards displayed on buildings.

The circle deputy commissioner said these did not fall in the category of hoardings and were being put up by educational institutions.

Hyderabad: Thousands of people from various parts of the country took the famous 'fish prasadam', believed to cure asthma, here on Wednesday.

The Bathini Goud family, which administers the 'fish prasadam' (murrel fish and a herbal paste), began the exercise at the Exhibition Grounds this morning and it will continue for 24 hours.

Police made elaborate arrangements to see that the event passes off peacefully and voluntary organisations also pitched in to help the patients.

The 'fish prasadam' is administered on the day of 'Mrigasira Karthe', which usually falls on June 7 or 8, the organisers said.

The family claims to be offering the 'fish prasadam' for the last 170 years. The herbal paste is stuffed inside a live murrel fish and slipped into the throat of the patient.

The formula is said to have been told to a family elder 170 years ago by a holy man. It is a said to be a closely-guarded secret within the family.

The medicinal properties of the 'fish prasadam' have often been questioned by scientists, rationalists and others, but that has not stopped people from arriving in the city in large numbers every year to receive the 'medicine'.