PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) officially handed over the user charge collection work of 57 wards to Self Help Groups (SHGs). The SHGs will receive 25 per cent of the collected amount as service charge. According to the officials, the decision follows directions from Dehradun municipal commissioner Namami Bansal and suggestions from councillors. The councillors had presented their suggestions in the last board meeting regarding the work. They informed that SHGs will work under the supervision of door-to-door supervisors to strengthen the solid waste collection system, ensure transparency and promote public participation. They stated that in 25 wards, Sunlight Waste Management continues to handle waste collection and user charge collection, while in 15 wards, NGOs have been responsible for the collection for the past few months. The allocation of wards was based on SHG availability, local accessibility, geographical conditions, and operational convenience. Each SHG will collect user charges quarterly from all residential and commercial establishments in their assigned wards. The initial phase covers the months of July, August and September 2025. SHGs must ensure that all eligible users pay their charges on time and in an organised manner. The officials stated that the total amount collected by SHGs must be deposited in the MCD office within the prescribed timeline. The office will maintain records of deposit amounts, collection registers, consumer details and receipts to ensure proper documentation and transparency. They stated that the initiative aims to strengthen waste management in the city, promote women’s leadership, establish transparency in revenue collection and provide citizens with better sanitation services. The MCD appealed to residents to cooperate by paying their user charges on time and support the effort to maintain cleanliness in Dehradun.
