Deccan Chronicle 31.12.2010
Garbage cess: BBMP rings in taxing 2011
Dec. 29: Citizens of Bengaluru will not have much to celebrate this new year, as the BBMP has plans to levy Solid Waste Management Cess or Garbage Cess on residential and non-residential units. During the meeting on Wednesday, amid all the pandemonium, the ruling BJP did manage to approve some resolutions, including imposition of the garbage cess.
According to the Municipal Solid Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000, the local body has to collect the garbage at source, segregate it and dispose of it scientifically. Besides that, it was a mandate imposed by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) to make use of the funds, said BBMP standing committee chairman on taxation and finance P. N. Sadashiva.
The cess would be collected along with the property tax from property owners for residential units, and along with the trade licence from traders. “The cess will be collected retrospectively from 2010 as the BBMP has included collection of the cess in its budget. Under Section 103A of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, provision has been made whereby the corporations can levy solid waste management cess. This should not exceed 1000 rupees per month,” he said.
BBMP opposition parties raised objections over the collection of garbage cess from residential units. Earlier, JD(S) members shouted anti- government slogans in the council and accused the BJP government of not being pro-people. They have also said that they have paid Rs 111.55 crores to contractors involved in the same. Additionally, the Palike have stated that they spent Rs 4.39 crores on Transfer stations and have also spent Rs 5.84 crores on disposing of the waste scientifically. They stated that the cess would reduce their financial burden.
The BBMP council on Wednesday approved the proposal to renew advertisement licenses for a year and collect the rent in the meantime. Launching a campaign against the unauthorised hoardings across the city, the BBMP had suspended the renewal of licenses until the revision of the advertisement fee.
The proposal to increase the taxes for advertisement hoardings have been put on hold for the moment by the council. Resolutions have been passed to provide chainlink fencing mesh to Devasandrakere, Chikkabasavanapura kere, Garudachar playa kere, Sadaramangala kere, Hoodikere; construct residential complex for dhobis at Malleswaram Dhobi ghat, to celebrate Kempegowda Day in February 2011 and to take up measures for overall development of Herohalli lake.
