Noida mulls ‘Swachh cess’ on major waste producers

The Noida authority on Saturday said that it may impose a ‘Swachh cess’ on bulk garbage producers, including hotels, restaurants and industries.

The Noida authority on Saturday said that it may impose a ‘Swachh cess’ on bulk garbage producers, including hotels, restaurants and industries.

Senior Noida authority officials at the meeting with industrialists, residents and other stakeholders in Sector 6. (HT Photo)

Levying the cess is one of the many initiatives that the authority has decided to take to reduce the pollution levels in Noida and make the city clean.

“We have decided to prepare a proposal in this regard. Once the proposal is approved in our board meeting and is given a nod by the Uttar Pradesh government too, we will impose a cess on bulk garbage producers. Funds collected as cess will be spent on keeping the city clean,” said Saumya Srivastava, deputy chief executive officer (DCEO) of the Noida authority.

The authority on Saturday held a meeting with residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) and social activists at the Indira Kala Kendra auditorium in Sector 6. Officials asked the residents to share their ideas to make a comprehensive plan for keeping Noida clean and reducing pollution.

Around 200 RWA office bearers attended the marathon meet held to prepare a blueprint to fight the rising pollution.

Additional chief executive officer (ACEO) of Noida authority Rajesh Prakash, who presided over the meeting, directed the project engineers to meet residents for addressing their grievances, especially those related to garbage disposal.

“If it is found that any official is not meeting residents and RWAs, we will take strict action,” said the ACEO.

Among other plans to fight pollution, the authority has decided to create a separate dedicated public health wing (apart from the existing ones) to resolve sanitation issues in Noida.

“Our project engineers will monitor garbage collection, transportation and disposal at landfill sites in Sector 134 and 68 daily so that the staff does not leave garbage on roads or in other open spaces,” said Srivastava.