It is learnt that the Gram Sabha of Colva on Sunday decided not to impose garbage tax on individual households, religious places like temples, churches and mosques and educational institutions located in the village. The garbage tax will only be applicable to the commercial establishments. The decision was reportedly taken after studying the government rates to be imposed in villages. This is a step in the right direction taken by the Gram Sabha of Colva and needs to be implemented by other village panchayats and civic bodies. It must be said that maintaining cleanliness happens to be the prime task of the village panchayats and municipal bodies. Hence it does not seem appropriate to tax the citizens for this service as the local governing bodies have other sources of income. It is pertinent to note that several households probably do not hand over the waste during the door-to-door collection of garbage in order to avoid paying the monthly fees. These people would in turn dispose of the waste produced at homes along the roads, in water-bodies and open spaces. Then the village panchayats and the civic bodies have the extra task of clearing the garbage from open spaces. Door-to-door collection should have no cost attached to it and there should be no garbage tax. This will go a long way in keeping our surroundings clean. Garbage tax needs to be imposed only on commercial establishments.
