GURUGRAM: The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has clarified that no exemptions will be provided regarding garbage collection charges linked to property tax bills, amidst growing uncertainty among residents.
MCG Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya emphasized to TOI that the charges should not be seen solely as a garbage collection fee. “These are solid waste management charges that incorporate road sweeping and other sanitation expenses. Residents are required to pay,” he stated, noting that MCG’s annual sanitation expenditure amounts to approximately Rs 350 crore.
This announcement follows weeks of confusion, during which many residents questioned the necessity of the charges. Various resident welfare groups have argued that the MCG has not delivered adequate sanitation services, including door-to-door waste collection and regular road sweeping, making the extra fee hard to justify.
Residents have also voiced concerns about the imposition of an additional sanitation charge, given that they are already paying property taxes and monthly maintenance fees to housing societies.
“If we are already paying property tax for municipal services, why do we have to pay separately for garbage collection or road sweeping? We are already paying monthly maintenance and property tax, and now an additional charge for garbage collection is being enforced,” said Sanjay Agarwal, a Sector 109 resident.
Amit Goswami, a resident of Princeton Floors in Sector 51, mentioned that residents in his society have consistently opposed these charges. “Gurgaon has earned a negative reputation for its sanitation. Since the builder left in 2013, we have been managing our society independently, with minimal support from the MCG. There are about 350 households in our community, and we have made it clear from the beginning that we will not pay these charges without receiving services,” Goswami stated.
He further noted that the payment portal previously allowed residents to pay property tax and garbage collection fees separately, leading many to opt not to pay the sanitation fee. “These charges are being imposed without necessity,” he added.
Residents highlighted the subpar road-sweeping services, a core service that the MCG claims is included in the solid waste management charges.
“Even if these charges are intended for road sweeping, the MCG is not fulfilling its responsibilities. Contractors frequently fail to show up, and when they do, the quality of work is lacking. What is the point of paying these charges?” questioned Lalit Suraj Bhola from Sector 9A.
The situation may escalate further as the MCG intends to outsource door-to-door waste collection to private agencies with five-year contracts. When asked if residents would have to pay separate fees for this service, Dahiya indicated that a decision on that matter would be made later.
In the fiscal year 2025-26, the MCG generated over Rs 350 crore from property tax. For the following fiscal year, the target revenue from property tax is set at Rs 325 crore.
