The Hindu 26.02.2013
Service charge for solid waste collection set to be revised
From hotels, hospitals, tea shops with minor changes in proposal approved by the civic body a few months ago.
Tiruchi Corporation is all set to revise the service charges for solid waste collection and disposal from hotels, hospitals, tea shops, roadside eateries and marriage halls in the city with minor changes in the proposal that was approved by the corporation council a few months ago.
In October last year, the council had cleared hiking the service charges with effect from January 1 this year in view of the increase in the salary of sanitary workers, diesel price and other operational costs involved in clearing solid wastes from the establishments.
However, at a meeting last month the council had deferred the move after a section of the AIADMK councillors felt that the hike was too steep. A fresh proposal would be brought before the council now with some minor changes in the revision planned earlier.
If approved by the council, the corporation would introduce a fee structure on daily basis instead of existing annual fee.
As per the revised proposal, a service charge of Rs.100 a day would be levied on star hotels with restaurants and bars. For hotels with restaurants and bars, which do not come under the star category, the fee would be Rs.75 a day. For air-conditioned and non air-conditioned hotels with restaurants, the charge would be Rs.50 and Rs.40 a day respectively.
The existing service charge for all the above categories is Rs.3,600 a year.
For lodges with up to 25 rooms, the fee would be Rs.20 a day and for those with more than 26 rooms it would be Rs.40 a day.
For restaurants, the fee would range from Rs.50 to Rs.20 a day depending on the amenities and seating capacities.
Tiffin stalls and night tea stalls would have to pay Rs.10 a day, while TASMAC shops with bars would attract the levy at Rs.50 a day. Meat stalls would be liable to pay fee ranging from Rs.50 to 10 a day, depending on their size. For marriage halls, the service charge would range from Rs.850 to Rs.500 a day depending on the amenities and seating capacities.
Hospitals and clinics would be liable to pay the fee for disposal of the non-medical wastes ranging from Rs.100 to Rs.10 a day, depending on their bed strength.
The service charge for wholesale fruit shops, departmental stores, malls, commercial complexes and printing presses is also to be revised.
Textile and tailoring shops, workshops and automobile shops and cinema halls would also be brought under the service charge net and would be required to pay the fee ranging from Rs.100 to 10 a day. All other establishments and shops generating solid wastes would be charged the fee ranging from Rs.40 to Rs.20 depending on the volume of wastes generated by them.
The corporation proposes to fix penalties for dumping solid wastes in corporation garbage bins or public places at the following rates: Rs.5000 for dumping or burning medical wastes or construction debris in public places; Rs.3000 for burning plastic wastes in public places; Rs.500 for dumping garbage in roads by commercial establishments; and Rs.250 for dumping garbage or open defecation by residents.
The revised rates would be enforced subject to approval by the corporation council.
