Starting April 1, residents of Bengaluru will have to pay a solid waste management fee as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) enforces a new ‘garbage cess’. The decision comes amid recent hikes in milk and electricity prices, adding to the financial burden on citizens.
Under the new cess, different rates have been fixed for residential buildings, shops, and hotels:
- Hotels, which previously paid ₹5 per kg for garbage disposal, will now be charged ₹12 per kg.
- Residential buildings will be taxed based on size:
- Up to 600 sq ft: ₹10/month
- 600 – 1000 sq ft: ₹50/month
- 1000 – 2000 sq ft: ₹100/month
- 2000 – 3000 sq ft: ₹150/month
- 3000 – 4000 sq ft: ₹200/month
- Above 4000 sq ft: ₹400/month
The BBMP will collect the cess annually along with property tax, expecting to generate ₹600 crore per year. The move is part of a larger effort to boost revenue from multiple sources.
The Karnataka BJP has strongly opposed the decision. Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA R. Ashoka lashed out at the Congress-led state government, accusing it of using the tax to fund political ambitions.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ashoka wrote: “The government, which failed to manage Bengaluru’s garbage, has now fixed fees for waste collection. Are they looting in the name of garbage to fund elections or secure the CM’s chair?”
The garbage cess follows a hike in Nandini milk prices by ₹4 per litre, effective April 1. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended the decision, stating that it would support dairy farmers.
Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) Chairman Bheema Naik pointed out that Karnataka’s milk prices were lower than in other states and that the additional revenue would directly benefit farmers.