PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) has, for the first time, begun to directly reinvest user charge revenue into strengthening the city’s solid waste collection system. The initiative marks a significant shift, as garbage collection vehicles are now being purchased using user charges collected through the self-help groups.
The MCD is currently operating a door-to-door garbage collection system in 50 wards of the city. Under this arrangement, user charges are collected from residents by the self-help groups entrusted with the responsibility. Over the past three months, regular collection by these groups has generated around Rs 55 lakh in revenue, which the officials described as the highest collection achieved so far.
According to MCD sources, this is the first instance where funds collected through user charges are being directly utilised to strengthen sanitation infrastructure. The amount is being used to purchase small vehicles such as auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers to improve garbage collection, particularly in narrow lanes and densely populated residential areas.
Speaking of the matter, the municipal commissioner Namami Bansal said that the initiative reflects the corporation’s efforts to make sanitation services more efficient and sustainable. “To further strengthen the system, self-help groups’ issues, suggestions and field-level experiences are being incorporated to improve both waste collection and user charge recovery. We believe that this model will play a key role in making Dehradun’s sanitation system self-reliant and sustainable in the coming years,” she added.
