THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The decision of the state government to hike waste-collection user fee based on volume has caused widespread concern among bulk-waste generators, including traders and the hotel and restaurant industry.
The local self-government department revised guidelines for user fee for door-to-door collection of non-biodegradable waste to ensure better incomes for Haritha Karma Sena (HKS) members. There are around 36,500 Haritha Karma Sena workers in the state and, according to officials, only 30% earn over Rs 10,000 a month.
“Ensuring better earnings for Haritha Karma Sena members is important to strengthen our waste-management system and the new order will not affect households. They collect large volumes of waste from bulk generators. We have even deployed their services for clearing public dustbins and for keeping public places clean. Ensuring a sustainable livelihood for them is the primary objective,” an LSGD official said.
At current rates, grama panchayats can collect a minimum user fee of Rs 50 for household waste collection. Corporations can charge a minimum of Rs 70. Commercial establishments are billed a minimum of Rs 100 for up to five sacks of non-biodegradable waste.
As per the revised order, for each additional sack of waste an extra minimum charge of Rs 100 per sack can be applied. The respective local bodies can fix higher rates considering the specific characteristics and feasibility of each location.
However, the decision hasn’t gone down well with several trade bodies. There are approximately one lakh hotels and restaurants in the state, said Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) president G Jayapal, stressing the need for uniform waste-management policy.
“The government is taking decisions and issuing orders, but local bodies are not following them. There is no uniformity in the rates fixed for collecting waste. In most places, officials are charging more money. If we raise an issue or concerns, local bodies harass us. As per rules, local bodies should be disposing of waste by collecting user fees from commercial establishments. Such facilities don’t even exist in many places,” Jayapal added.
According to trade organisations, services offered by Haritha Karma Sena are not up to the mark.
“Whether they provide this service or not, we have no choice but to cough up user fee. A large majority of trade establishments that generate bare minimum waste are also forced to pay the user fee. Traders are left hamstrung as even renewing licences are tied to payment of the user fee. Even after making the payment, heaps of waste dot many public places,” said S S Manoj, state president, Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi.