In three months, civic body to collect user fee for garbage removal

According to a Chennai Corporation source, a government order was released on January 10 and the order was issued based on a Chennai Corporation special council resolution dated November 20, 2019.

“The rules for Chennai Corporation have been prepared as per the solid waste management rules released by the central government in 2016. The central government rules mandate the State governments to collect user charges for removing garbage from the streets,” the official said.

As per the new rules, the civic body would collect user charges based on the size and usage of buildings. Residential buildings with built area up to 500 sqft would have to pay Rs 10 per month to the civic body.

For residential buildings with built area up to 501-1,200 sqft, Rs 25 would be collected. Rs 50 and Rs 100 would be collected for residential buildings with a built-up area of 1,201 to 2,400 sqft and residential buildings above 2401 sqft respectively.

Apart from residential buildings, commercial establishments and schools, places of worship would be charged Rs 500 per month for collecting waste.

For the events to be held in open public spaces, expect funeral and government awareness activities, the civic body would collect Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 per event based on the number of persons participating.

The official added that as the government approved the rules, the civic body has to release the rules to seek public opinion.

“Three months would be given t the public. After that, we will issue a statement to implement the rules,” the official said.

When asked whether the user fees would be collected by the civic body or the private firms that have been appointed to do conservancy works, a senior official clarified that the charges would be collected by the civic body.

Even though the user charges would be calculated on a monthly basis, building owners have to pay the charges along with property tax once in six months.

According to a rough estimation by officials, the civic body would earn Rs 60 crore to Rs 70 crore per year by collecting user charges.

Apart from user charges, the civic body would also collect penalties for littering in the public, non-segregation of waste, burning of solid waste and littering in water bodies. The penalties are fixed at Rs 100 to Rs 5,000.