Hyderabad: The TS government has decided to impose a fine on violators who break the solid waste management (SWM) rules in the urban local bodies. The government is planning to give powers to the municipal commissioners to impose the fines. TS is also planning to impose user charges for collecting the solid waste. SWM rules mandate every state to have a SWM policy. The government has asked the municipal administration and the urban development department to finalise the draft by incorporating provisions for user charges and penalising the violators.

The municipal department has informed the government that the existing provisions in the Municipal Act do not have the required provisions to levy penalties. Thus, the state has decided to confer powers on the municipal commissioners for imposing fines for littering and open defecation. The government also wants to hold bulk generators responsible for segregation, storage and user charges. It has directed GHMC and other urban local bodies to identify the bulk generators who generate more than 100 kg waste per day.