Mangaluru : Inadequate collection of solid waste management cess is one among the several reasons for the delayed payment of service charges to Antony Waste Handling Cell Private Ltd., which is entrusted with the responsibility of solid waste management in the city, according to Mangaluru City Corporation.

“We are not getting enough of (solid waste management) cess,” said Corporation Commissioner H.N. Gopalakrishna.

“Bills (of the firm) are being cleared when taxes are paid. Hence, there is delay,” Mr. Gopalakrishna added. The solid waste management cess is being collected along with property tax since 2015-16 even as the Mumbai-based firm started door-to-door collection of garbage and its transportation to the yard in Pachhanady. Mr. Gopalakrishna said that as against the expected Rs. 55.65 crore as property tax and Rs. 15 crore as solid waste management cess, the corporation has received Rs. 30 crore and Rs. 4.51 crore, respectively. The Mumbai-based firm, which is entrusted with garbage collection from all the 60 wards, has been paid Rs. 17.69 crore since February last.

Mr. Gopalakrishna has asked people to pay property tax and the solid waste management cess in the next three months. “If you pay in time, we will be in a better position to pay the firm and further improve garbage collection and the disposal mechanism,” he said.