Chandigarh, Aug. 1 -- While approving steeper penalties for littering, throwing waste in public and dumping garbage in water bodies, the General House of the Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC) rejected the provision for a hike in user charges across various categories under the fresh Solid Waste Management (SWM) rules, 2026. The fines are as high as Rs.1.5 lakh for bulk waste generators and residents welfare associations for failure to comply (see box).

The draft, though approved by the House, has been kept open for public feedback and MC councillors' suggestions for the next 15 days following which a final draft will be prepared.

The draft was passed following a heated debate as councillors raised a plethora of issues related to gar...