The Panchkula municipal corporation's decision to waive garbage collection charges for the fiscal year 2023-2024 has been delayed due to the model code of conduct. Consequently, the city residents will now have to continue paying the fee until the poll code is lifted.
The announcement of the relief was made during the budget meeting of the MC held on February 29. It was decided to waive garbage collection charges for residential areas and make adjustments for any fees already paid.
However, no notification regarding this decision was issued, and clearance from urban local bodies (ULB) was pending due to the poll code restrictions. The MC had been collecting garbage collection charges along with property tax.
Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal stated, "The MC house had resolved not to levy charges for garbage collection for the year 2023-2024. The decision was forwarded to the ULB, but due to the Model Code of Conduct, implementation was halted. A decision will be made once the poll code is lifted."
Panchkula district falls under the Ambala constituency and is scheduled for Lok Sabha polls on May 25.
The mayor had announced the waiver of garbage collection charges after Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) councillor Sushil Garg, representing Ward Number 14, raised concerns. He noted that the MC was charging fees from housing societies despite not collecting garbage from doorsteps. Garg highlighted that there were 150 housing societies in his ward alone, with no doorstep garbage collection service.
Starting from April 2023, the MC began collecting user solid waste management (SWM) charges from all residential, commercial, and institutional units under its jurisdiction. As of February 20, 2024, the civic body had collected Rs 550.84 million.
The monthly user fee for residential areas ranges from Rs 50 for units up to 50 sq m, Rs 100 for sites above 50 sq m and up to 200 sq m, Rs ?200 for units from above 200 sq m and up to 500 sq m, Rs 250 for units above 500 sq m and up to 1,000 sq m, and Rs 350 for units above 1,000 sq m.
Yoginder Kwatra, vice-president of Sector-20 Resident Welfare Association (RWA), expressed, "The MC announced the decision, but it hasn't been implemented. Residents feel deceived as outstanding dues ranging from Rs 700 to Rs 1,200 are being attributed to their properties. Individuals seeking property registry cannot proceed without obtaining a no dues certificate, which won't be issued until these charges are settled."
