Paid garbage charge? Don’t pay twice: LMC

Lucknow: Check whether you have already paid the user charge for garbage collection along with your house tax. If yes, you do not need to pay it monthly to the private contractor collecting door-to-door fees.

The advice came during a review meeting at the Zone-4 office on Monday, where Mayor Sushma Kharkwal discussed complaints of double charging.

Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) allows property owners to pay the user charge either annually with their property tax or separately through LMC supervisors and private collection partners. However, residents, who have already paid the charge with their property tax, are often asked to pay again during door-to-door collection. Officials said the civic body receives around 30 such complaints every month.

The mayor asked residents to verify whether they already paid the user charge and said those who have done so need not pay it again. She directed officials to ensure transparency in the collection system and prevent inconvenience to citizens.

The meeting also reviewed sanitation, waste collection, encroachment removal, revenue collection and other civic services as part of preparations for Swachh Survekshan 2026.

Kharkwal directed officials to strengthen waste collection, ensure full coverage in unserved areas, complete drain cleaning before the monsoon and take action against encroachments on roads, drains and public spaces.