Waste collection fee waived for residential units in Panchkula

Panchkula, July 11

The Municipal Corporation will not collect solid waste management (SWM) charges from residents of Panchkula now.

The corporation had sent a proposal to the Urban Local Bodies Department seeking waiver of the garbage collection charges levied on households. The proposal has been accepted and processed by the department. As such, the charges implemented in April last year have been waived. The same will now be borne by the local body itself.

Officials said the charges were being collected from all residential, commercial and institutional units under the MC ambit.

The monthly user fee for residential areas was Rs 50 for units up to 50 sq m area, Rs 100 for sites above 50 sq m and up to 200 sq m, Rs 200 for units of sizes between 200 and 500 sq m, Rs 250 for units measuring between 500 and 1,000 sq m and Rs 350 for properties above 1,000 sq m in area. The same was collected along with the property tax charges.

A number of resident welfare associations in the city had earlier submitted representations to the corporation to cancel the charges. Residents claimed that the MC had at the time of allocation of the tender for the purpose decided to bear the expenses.

During the General House meeting of the corporation this year, councillors had protested against the waste collection charges being levied on residents. Following this, the MC sent a proposal to the Urban Local Bodies Department.

MC officials said the corporation was tasked with collection of Rs 50 crore as waste collection charges every year.

Zonal Taxation Officer Akash Kapoor said, “The garbage collection charges have been removed from the online property and garbage tax collection portal.”