Local bodies in Ernakulam asked to hike user fee for doorstep waste collection

17 grama panchayats collecting fee less than ₹50 per month

The Department of Local Self Government has asked local bodies in Ernakulam to increase the user fee for doorstep collection of non-biodegradable waste as per the government guidelines.

The recommendation came after it was found that 17 grama panchayats were collecting user fee less than ₹50 per month. The revised government guidelines related to the user fee for solid waste collection issued in August last had stated that the local bodies could collect a minimum of ₹50 per month from households. The local bodies were permitted to collect a minimum amount of ₹100 from commercial establishments.

An assessment by the department in June had found that 32 grama panchayats were collecting a user fee of ₹30 or ₹40 per month. Of this, 15 grama panchayats revised the rate to ₹50 by August after getting the approval of the councils concerned.