Dharamsala panchayats ‘voluntarily’ impose sanitation charges
Many panchayats in Dharamsala block have voluntarily imposed sanitation charges on villagers. In these panchayats, every family will now have to pay a fee of Rs 50 to Rs 75 every month for garbage collection. The decision was taken at gram sabhas held in January and February so that people did not throw household waste in the open and cleanliness was maintained in villages.
Sources say that the panchayats in Dharamsala block have voluntarily decided to collect a fee of Rs 50 per month from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families and Rs 75 to Rs 80 per month from Above Poverty Line (APL) families. A fee of up to Rs 100 per month has been fixed for small shops and homestays. A fee of Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 has been fixed for big commercial centres running in the panchayats, including hotels, restaurants and schools.
The sources say that the Union Government has directed the states to impose sanitation charges in rural areas under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Though the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats has not ordered strict orders for the imposition of sanitation charges in rural areas, it has directed the Block Development Officers (BDOs) to persuade the panchayats to impose sanitation charges on their own.
Director, Rural Development and Panchayats Himachal, Raghav Sharma says that panchayats are not being forced to impose sanitation charges. Rather, they are being encouraged to voluntarily impose sanitation charges by taking local residents into confidence. The funds collected will be utilised by the panchayats in hiring the services of people to keep sanitation in their respective areas, he adds.
In Dharamsala, some local environment NGOs have persuaded the panchayats to impose sanitation charges. Till date, only 200 of more than 3,000 panchayats in the state have imposed sanitation charges, he adds.
Sharma says that the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats is planning to formulate rules for panchayats in the state to maintain sanitation, impose sanitation charges and manage solid waste being generated in their areas. The panchayats will decide the amount of sanitation charges and fines for littering surrounding at their level, he adds.
The sources say that sanitation in rural areas of the state is becoming a problem as solid waste, including plastic, is generated in every household but there is no mechanism to manage or treat it. In such a scenario, solid waste is generally dumped in rivers, streams or on hill slopes.
Panchayats in Dharamsala that have imposed sanitation charges include Bagni, Bagli, Balla Jadrangal, Barwala, Bhattaala, Chaitdu, Dhagwar, Kneed, Mandal, Padhar, Rakkad, Sokni Ka Kot, Tang Nirwana, Tangrot, Tangroti Khas and Tau. They have fixed charges between Rs 50 and Rs 30 for BPL families, Rs 70 and Rs 100 for APL families and between Rs 250 and Rs 1,000 for commercial buildings.
Rural Development Dept to frame rules
- Charges range from Rs 30 to Rs 50 per month for BPL families, Rs 70 to Rs 100 for APL families and from Rs 250 to Rs 1,000 per month for commercial buildings for garbage collection
- Panchayats have been encouraged to voluntarily impose sanitation charges, says Director, Rural Development
- The department may frame rules to facilitate the imposition of sanitation charges in rural areas of Dharamsala
