Nix user fee for collection of solid waste, say citizens

BMC's Solid Waste Management byelaws elicit over 550 responses on email and WhatsApp

- Sabah Virani

MUMBAI: Almost a month after the BMC opened the gates to suggestions and objections regarding the draft Solid Waste Management (SWM) byelaws, it received 555 responses till Tuesday. Most of the responses object to the introduction of an SWM user fee, starting from Rs 100 for homes with a built-up area (BUA) of up to 50 square metres. Those with a BUA of between 50 sq m and 300 sq m will incur a charge of ₹500, and for houses exceeding 300 sq m, the fee will be ₹1,000 for waste collection.

"We have received 505 responses on WhatsApp and around 50 on email," said an official from the SWM department. "Most of them are against the user fee. There are some, however, asking for fines for various civic offences to be increased to serve as a deterrent."

Advocate Trivankumar Karnani from the Mumbai North Central District Forum said that the proposed user fees were unfair, as citizens were already paying heavy taxes in a city like Mumbai. "Considering the lack of efficiency and competence in the civic body, these additional charges are unjustified," he said.