Garbage collectors protest in Hyderabad over property tax garbage fee

Swach Auto workers protested at Malkajgiri and LB Nagar offices, alleging GHMC collected garbage fees via property taxes, harming their income. Leaders announced a February 23 protest, while GHMC clarified that garbage fee collection is handled by private agencies.

Hyderabad: Hundreds of garbage collectors, led by Greater Hyderabad Swachh Auto Workers’ union President Katravath Gopal Naik, protested in front of the Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation and LB Nagar Circle office on Thursday, alleging the GHMC officials were collecting garbage fee in the property taxes.

The workers raised slogans against Ramky company, which they claimed was affecting their livelihoods. Union President Gopal Naik said they sustained their families by collecting garbage, a profession handed down from their ancestors. He said it was unfair for the government to collect garbage fees through property taxes, which would harm their income.

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He also announced a protest in front of the GHMC headquarters on February 23, and urged workers to participate on a large scale.

Meanwhile, K Rajender, a Swach Auto union president, told Telangana Today, “The unions were invited by the three GHMC commissioners to hold discussions on this issue on Friday.”

Deputy Commissioner, Alwal, P Bogeswarlu said the responsibility of the garbage fee collections is allotted to private agencies and GHMC has not included it in the property tax fee.