Garbage collectors can’t charge user fee

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 19

Door-to-door garbage collectors won’t be allowed to charge user fee for collection of waste as notified by the UT Administration yesterday.

Sources said the MC had made it clear that new rates could only be charged by collectors once they sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the civic body.

MC Commissioner KK Yadav said while the implementation of the new user fee had been put on hold till garbage collectors become partners of the civic body in the segregation process, all other penalties and user charges had been implemented with immediate effect.

Yadav said challan for littering would also be started soon with the new rates. The MC has fixed penalties from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 for various violations.

The MC has fixed new rates for door-to-door garbage collectors in the bylaws. Dwelling units up to 50 sq m will have to pay Rs 50, 50 to 200 sq m (Rs 100) 200 to 500 sq m (Rs 200), 500 to 1000 sq m Rs 250 and dwelling units over 1,000 sq m will have to pay Rs 350 per month.

At present, garbage collectors are charging fee as per their own wish without any fixed formula. The rates are lower in some areas while higher in some other areas.

The door-to-door garbage collection issue has been lingering on for months after the garbage collectors refused to work under the MC last year.

Succumbing to the political pressure, the MC failed to start the segregation of waste, which was one of the reasons for slipping in the ranking of Swachh Survekshan. The city has slipped from 3rd position to 20th position in the Swachhta ranking.

Refundable cleanliness charges mandatory

Residents will have to deposit charges before organising any events. The provision has been made part of the bylaws notified by the UT. This deposit will be refunded after it is noted that the said public place had been restored to a clean state and any waste generated as a result of the event has been collected and transported to designated sites after the completion of the event. All brand owners who sell or market their products in packaging material, which are non-biodegradable, will put in place a system to collect back packaging waste generated due to their production.

The rates

The MC has fixed new rates for door-to-door garbage collectors in the bylaws. Dwelling units up to 50 sq m will have to pay Rs 50, 50 to 200 sq m (Rs 100) 200 to 500 sq m (Rs 200), 500 to 1000 sq m Rs 250 and dwelling units over 1,000 sq m will have to pay Rs 350 per month.