Bhubaneswar, March 30: The state housing and urban development department has decided to collect users' fees for various civic services from residents across the state.

The department has already passed a resolution and will notify it to invite suggestions from stakeholders.

A notification will be issued shortly and suggestions will be invited from officials and residents. After the suggestions are received, a detailed gazette notification will be issued to enforce the decision.

Housing and urban development department commissioner G. Mathi Vathanan told The Telegraph that the government has passed a resolution for all the urban local bodies to collect users fees for civic services.

"We have initiated the process for introducing user fees at all the urban local bodies across the state," said Mathi Vathanan.

At present, only Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) collects user fees for various civic services including lifting of garbage, cleaning of drains and more.

"The plan here is to generate revenue as well as attain the objectives of Swachh Bharat Mission in the state," said the commissioner. Last week, the high court had stayed the decision of the BMC.

Officials said the fees would be fixed and collected based on population, size of the area and services of the respective urban local bodies. Presently, there are 103 urban local bodies in the state including four municipal corporations, 34 municipalities and 66 notified area councils.

The ministry of urban development has already fixed base fees for different civic services for different category of houses, establishments and individuals.

In Bhubaneswar, if you have a house of up to 80 square meters, you will pay Rs 50 towards solid waste management, from 80 square metres to 120 square metres user fees will be Rs 100 and Rs 200 will be collected from houses which are over 120 square meters.

"It is arbitrary of the government to impose fees after fees on the citizens in such a manner. First, they have to ensure quality of services and then think of collecting money from us. The situation is quite good in the state capital when it comesto sanitation, but in other parts of the state, sanitation and civic services are in such a big mess. The government should make an effort to provide quality services with the money they collect," said Harihar Dip, a resident of Unit III.

Accordingly, the urban local bodies of the state will also collect fines from residents for littering and non-segregation of waste.

According to a notification of the Union government, the urban local bodies can fine between Rs 100 and Rs 5,000 from residents, shopkeepers, wedding venues, hotels and others.