GHMC’s Delayed Payment Of Library Cess Affects Upkeep of Libraries

Hyderabad: A default by urban civic bodies, including GHMC, in transferring the library cess they collect from people affects Grandhalaya Samsthas’ ability to maintain existing libraries properly and prevents them from starting new ones.

According to norms, eight per cent of property tax collected by the GHMC must be transferred annually to the Hyderabad City Grandhalaya Samstha (CGS) as library cess. However, the GHMC has not been transferring the full amount, releasing only partial sums in instalments.

ULBs outside Hyderabad too have failed to regularly transfer cess to their respective Grandhalaya Samsthas. The total pending library cess from GHMC and other ULBs stands at ₹302.49 crore, of which GHMC alone accounts for around ₹175 crore.

The Hyderabad City Grandhalaya Samstha, which maintains over 86 public libraries, has been unable to implement its proposal to establish 1,000 e-libraries due to funding constraints. Works initiated last year at the State Central Library in Afzalgunj remain incomplete, including infrastructure-related upgrades. Similarly, the City Central Library in Chikkadpally continues to face a shortage of seating capacity.

According to sources, non-payment of library cess has continued for 15 years, attributed to fund constraints and prioritisation of other expenditures by ULBs.

“Earlier, funds were not released at all. But now, we have been releasing ₹35 lakh every month to HCGS for the last two years. In addition to this, we are also releasing funds for civic works,” said a GHMC official.