Corporators and leaders of the alliance parties are set to push for the elimination of the “user charge” system for garbage collection at the upcoming GVMC Council meeting on September 10. They argue that the revenue of over ₹7 crore generated from these charges can be avoided, fulfilling an election promise made by the Telugu Desam-led alliance during the recent general elections.
Corporators have begun drafting proposals for the Council’s consideration next week. The tax for garbage collection, introduced by the YSRC government, faced strong public opposition, prompting the alliance to pledge its removal if they came to power.
Interestingly, YSRC floor leader Banala Satya Surya Srinivasa Rao has also submitted a petition to Mayor Golagani Hari Venkata Kumari, calling for the cancellation of the user charge. The mayor has agreed to include the issue in the meeting’s agenda, with a formal request to the state government to abolish the tax. If this is approved, the collection of ₹7.77 crore—₹7.05 crore from 587,910 residential properties and ₹69.83 lakh from 25,722 commercial properties—would cease.
The YSRC government had initially implemented the user charge under the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016, imposing fees of ₹120 per month for residential buildings, ₹60 for slum areas, and between ₹200 and ₹15,000 for commercial properties. Despite objections from TD and JS corporators, the proposal was passed in June 2021 due to the YSRC’s council majority. After public protests, collections were temporarily halted, but resumed under pressure.
Now, with the TD-led alliance in power, the GVMC has stopped collecting the charges, but the alliance leaders are set to introduce a resolution urging the state government to officially abolish the user charge system.
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