“If we ourselves are responsible for waste disposal, why pay taxes to MCC?”

Asks Mysuru Hotel Owners Association President

Mysuru:  “If the citizens of Mysuru are held responsible for waste generation and garbage disposal, what is the use of having a City Corporation? And why do we have to pay taxes to local bodies? Is it not the responsibility of the Corporation to efficiently dispose waste?”

These questions were raised by Mysuru Hotel Owners Association President C. Narayanagowda at an interaction organised on “Karnataka State Solid Waste, Plastic Waste and Construction Waste Disposal and Management State Policy and Strategies  – 2018” at NIE Diamond Jubilee Sports Complex on Saturday.

Questioning the functioning of local administration, Narayanagowda said that if all the works have to be done by the city residents, then for what purpose the Corporations are established. “As per the solid waste disposal regulations of 2016, we are responsible for waste disposal. Then why should we pay taxes to the Corporation? Has the Corporation given us any concession in the taxes?” he questioned.

“We pay a lot of taxes including property tax, water tax, library cess and other forms of taxes. Still we are held responsible for the waste disposal. This is not right. To start a hotel, a person must obtain No Objection Certificates (NOC) from 28 Government and semi-Government agencies and that person is made to run from pillar to post. In this situation, is it possible to run a hotel business?” he asked.

Adding to all these rules to be followed by hoteliers, the Corporation and Municipal administration is bringing more rules regarding waste disposal. “You have made the lives of hoteliers and small businessmen miserable by introducing new rules and regulations. These rules are beyond our jurisdiction and it is the responsibility of the Corporation to follow the rules. We don’t have any objection to follow the plastic disposal regulations. But why are officials turning a blind eye towards Government institutions and agencies who are blatantly violating the plastic rule?” he questioned.

Responding to the questions, Manu, Environment Engineer from Directorate of Municipal Administration, said that only wet waste is the responsibility of residents and hoteliers and all waste does not come under their responsibility. Only those plastic that are harmful to the environment has been banned and  there is no ban on eco-friendly plastic, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, MCC Commissioner K.H. Jagadeesha said that efficient waste disposal was everyone’s responsibility. “The MCC is trying its best to scientifically dispose waste but is facing several hurdles and one among them is shortage of Waste Treatment Plants,” he said.

The Commissioner said that such interaction has been organised with the main intention of attracting all the stakeholders for co-participation instead of blindly imposing the Government rules on particular business sections.

The interaction saw the participation of more than 150 people. Officers from MCC, office-bearers of different Standing Committees of MCC and Pollution Control Board officers were present.

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