CUNCOLIM: Issue of increase in Sanitation and garbage fees has subjected the freshly elected Cuncolim Municipal Council (CMC) into fix.
Reportedly, on November 2020 CMC decided to increase the garbage and sanitation fees of households and also fixed new rates for garbage collection from commercial establishments. This new rates of garbage collection came into force from December 2020. In fact Directorate of Municipal Administration had asked all Municipalities to review garbage rates. Accordingly CMC Chief Officer and then Municipal Administrator increased garbage rate for households from Rs 365 to Rs720 annually. This new rates came into force from April1, 2021. Present Council came into power from April 6, 2021.
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Locals split in opinion on the charge hike; some demand a roll back while other are ready pay two rupees a day for garbage collection. Congress supporters and Traders Association has already submitted memorandum to council to roll back garbage fees. Chairperson Laxman Naik said, “Council will decide on this issue on June 4 Council meeting.”
Questions raised that if the council has authority to go against DMA decision.
Officers looking at council’s affairs and garbage collection suggested that garbage fees is imminent looking at the payout council need to do to the 32 garbage collectors on job. Council is paying each worker Rs.500 per day. They also have garbage truck drivers and have to shell out a huge sum to the contractors for garbage treatment; the total amount spend is apparently 10 times to the collection.
DMA apparently took decision to increase garbage and sanitation fees to give some relief to the council.
Chairperson Laxman Naik said council will discuss the issue and will see the advantages and disadvantages and legal aspects to roll back the garbage fees. CP also cleared that the decision to increase the garbage fees was not taken by present council or the outgoing Council, it was a government decision.
