Andhra Pradesh Government Abolishes Garbage Tax

November 23, 2024

The Andhra Pradesh government has recently ceased the collection of garbage tax. This decision follows the introduction of a bill by Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana. The State Legislative Assembly approved the bill on November 21, 2024, which aims to investigate the previous government’s handling of the tax.

Background of the Garbage Tax

The garbage tax was implemented by the YSRCP government to fund waste collection services. It affected 40 municipalities across the state. Households paid between ₹30 and ₹120, while commercial properties were charged between ₹100 and ₹10,000.

The government allocated ₹51,641 to ₹62,964 monthly to service providers for garbage collection. This expenditure totaled approximately ₹13.9 crore each month. Between November 2021 and July 2022, bills issued amounted to ₹325 crore, but only ₹249 crore was collected.

Criticism of the Previous Government

Minister Narayana brought into light that municipal taxes remained unchanged during the TDP government’s tenure from 2014 to 2019. He condemned the YSRCP for imposing the garbage tax without public consultation. Protests occurred in various areas, particularly among women.

Enforcement Measures

In some regions, water supply was cut off for residents who failed to pay the garbage tax. Volunteers were assigned to collect the tax every Saturday, enforcing compliance among citizens.

Narayana reminded the public that the NDA government had pledged to abolish the tax prior to the elections. The Cabinet officially passed a resolution to repeal the tax on October 16, 2024. This decision marks shift in the state’s approach to waste management funding.

Important Facts for Exams:
YSRCP – The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party governs Andhra Pradesh. It introduced the garbage tax to fund waste collection. The tax faced criticism for lack of public consultation.
TDP – The Telugu Desam Party ruled Andhra Pradesh from 2014 to 2019. During this period, municipal taxes remained unchanged. The party’s policies influenced subsequent government decisions on taxation.
NDA – The National Democratic Alliance is a coalition of political parties in India. It promised to abolish the garbage tax before elections. This pledge influenced public sentiment and political actions.

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