Andhra scraps tree guard fee, mandates waste units for large apartments

Andhra Pradesh's Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department is overhauling urban governance by scrapping redundant charges, including a 'tree guard fee', and cutting the number of charges collected from 45 types. A top official made the announcement at the Green Andhra Summit organised by the Indian Green Building Council. The department is also streamlining procedures under the Swarna Andhra 2047 Vision.

New rules will require apartment complexes generating over 100 kg of waste per day to set up in-situ solid waste management units. The government has approved the Reuse of Treated Used Water Policy, 2026 to promote a circular water economy. Slum redevelopment is being reworked on a DBFT basis, with Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation building a high-rise with 177 housing units under relaxed Floor Space Index norms.

The department is promoting green buildings with incentives like development charge discounts, and has reduced zoning categories from 15 to 10 for flexibility. Hefty penalties for violations have been stipulated. The official said the aim is to make cities grow rapidly and adaptively, like London and Paris.