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It's no prank: garbage cess from April 1

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The Times of India       16.03.2011

It's no prank: garbage cess from April 1

BANGALORE: The cash-strapped BMMP is trying every trick in the book to generate resources and from April 1, you'll be shelling out garbage cess. The question still remains whether it'll ramp up its garbage clearance and disposal. It'll be collected as part of property tax once a year.

The different slabs for the cess are based on bulk producers and garbage collected from households. Separate slabs have been set for residential users, commercial enterprises, industries, hotels, kalyana mantaps and nursing homes (see table). The rates have been fixed as per section 103 (B) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act. BBMP estimates it'll generate Rs 250 crore through it.

Property owners have to declare quantity of garbage produced on their premises. About 3,200 metric tonnes of waste are generated in the city every day. The cess is to meet the BBMP's expenditure of Rs 200 crore spent on solid waste management. The BBMP council approved this proposal recently. The initiative has been taken up to keep the city clean, said BBMP commissioner Siddaiah. There's a provision for collection of garbage cess in JN-NURM scheme and most cities in this scheme have already implemented it.

When to pay

The cess is effective from April 1, 2011. Within 60 days of the first financial year (by June), this cess should be paid when property owners pay half-yearly or annual property tax. If it's not paid within the stipulated period, revenue officials will send a reminder and then levy a penalty on defaulters. If the place has been rented out, tenants will have to pay cess through their owners. The rule is silent about garbage segregation at source, which is crucial to solid waste management.

What to pay

Residential buildings

* Up to 1000 sqft: Rs 10

* 1001-3000 sqft: Rs 30

* 3001 sqft and more: Rs 50

Commercial buildings

* Up to 1000 sqft: Rs 50

* 1001-5000 sqft: Rs 100

* More than 5001 sqft: Rs 200

Industries

* Up to 1000 sqft: Rs 100

* 1001-5000 sqft: Rs 200

* More than 5001 sqft: Rs 300

Hotels, kalyan mantaps, nursing homes

* Up to 1000 sqft: Rs 300

* 1001-5000 sqft: Rs 500

* More than 5001 sqft: Rs 600