HDMC withdraws UGD fees, SWM cess

SWM user charges slashed for open plots, rebate extended

Hubballi: Following opposition from residents and trade bodies, the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) which had hiked civic taxes this time by introducing charges related to solid waste management (SWM) and underground drainage (UGD) has now decided to withdraw UGD user fees and SWM cess for 2025-26.

This comes after a meeting of all party leaders of the HDMC and the civic body authorities’ discussion with the office-bearers of the Karnatak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Monday. The move is expected to reduce the total civic tax by at least 15%. The hike executed earlier for 2025-26 was more than 40% for many property owners. However, the civic body has not withdrawn the arrears of hike in property tax for 2024-25, and the increase for 2025-26.

Meanwhile, the HDMC has decided to go ahead with the newly-introduced SWM charges which stands at Rs 1,200 for a property with slightly above 1,000 square feet of built-up area. But, the changes in the property tax challans being made now include reduction of SWM user charges for open plots from 50 paise per square foot to 25 paise. The duration of 5% rebate on property tax payment has been extended till May 20.

“Charges related to SWM and UGD were added as per the 2019 circular of the government. As public and organisations opposed, decisions are taken for withdrawal of UGD user fees, SWM cess, reduction in SWM user charges for open plots, and extension of rebate period. Challans with revisions will be issued from April 22 (Tuesday), while the additional amount already paid by citizens since the beginning of this month will be adjusted in the challans of the next financial year,” said Mayor Ramappa (Ramanna) Badiger. Changes made now would result in around Rs 25 crore shortfall in the HDMC’s expected revenue, he added.

After holding discussion with the office-bearers of the KCCI, which had given a call to citizens not to pay property tax till the hike is reduced, Badiger told reporters that citizens having multiple properties in different zones can now make offline payment of property tax at a single zonal office.

He also said the number of auto-tippers is being increased to improve the waste collection, and Rs 10 crore would be paid to the contractors this month as Rs 19 crore property tax amount is already collected.

Letter to govt

Admitting that around 40% of areas in the twin cities still lack UGD connections and levying UGD user charges is not correct, Leader of House in HDMC Veeranna Savadi stated that the next general body meeting of the HDMC would pass a resolution asking the government not to make it mandatory to collect UGD charges till all areas have UGD network.

Senior corporator Tippanna Majjagi said the additional charges now withdrawn may have to be introduced in small amount next year, and the matter would be discussed with all the concerned.

“We have co-operated to take these decision (related to civic taxes) so that huge burden is not imposed on citizens,” noted Leader of Opposition in HDMC Rajashekhar Kamati.