HDMC Decides To Seek Govt's Nod To Withdraw SWM User Fee

Decision taken in wake of huge public outcry and a call given by KCCI to the public to not pay taxes until the HDMC withdraws the fee

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Hubballi

The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), which had earlier withdrawn UGD User Fee and SWM Cess, has now decided to request the government to allow it to do away with the SWM User Fee. A decision in this regard was taken at the general body meeting of the HDMC Council held here on Tuesday.

As the corporation freshly introduced the UGD User Fee and SWM User Fee to collect along with the Property Tax for the year 2025-26, a significant jump was seen in the tax, and the public complained that this hike was exorbitant. In the wake of a huge public outcry and a call given by the Karnataka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) to the public to not pay taxes until the corporation withdraws its decision, the HDMC was under intense pressure.

Paying heed to the public demand, the all-party meeting conducted by Mayor Ramanna Badiger on April 21 decided to withdraw the UGD User Fee and the SWM Cess but let the SWM User Fee continue, despite reservations from HDMC commissioner Rudresh Ghali. The latter's concern was that he would be held accountable during the audit, and the corporation could lose Swachha Bharat grants from the Union government, if the user fees were not introduced.