A new user fee for the collection and disposal of household waste, authorized by the karnataka government, would be added to Bengaluru residents' property tax bills starting april 1.
 
Depending on the size of the property, there are six slabs in the charge structure.  Properties exceeding 4,000 square feet will cost ₹400 per month, while buildings up to 600 square feet will pay ₹10.  For example, a standard three-story building on a 30 by 40 square foot lot may cost ₹150 per month. This is on top of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) levy that is currently collected from property taxes and is used to pay for maintaining public areas.

It is anticipated that the fee will bring in about ₹750 crore a year.  Tushar Girinath, the chief commissioner of the BBMP, stated that the BSWML's allotment has been raised to ₹1,400 crore.  "We anticipate that the user charge will bring in at least ₹750 crore.  According to the story, he stated, "The remaining sum will be given to BSWML from our other revenue sources." In contrast, BBMP funding earlier provided ₹1,085 crore to the agency.

The idea was accepted earlier this year by the Urban Development Department, which is headed by deputy cm D K Shivakumar, but the official order has not yet been issued.  In the most recent city budget, BBMP Special Commissioner (Finance) Dr. Harish Kumar P said that the agency would start collecting the user fee and property tax in the 2025–2026 fiscal year.
 
Although BSWML had presented its application last November, citing the Solid trash Management Rules, 2016 and other court rulings, this is the first time BBMP has explicitly accepted the establishment of a user fee for home trash management.

Not everybody is on board.  Bengaluru NavaNirmana party (BNP) member Poongothai Paramasivam questioned the necessity of a new charge, saying, "BBMP has plenty of money.  It must provide an explanation for why the current budget is inadequate before taking into account a user fee.  Where is the money going?  Why aren't SWM expenses audited or made publicly available?
 
 Although urban entities are permitted to collect such fees under Swachh Survekshan rules, she stressed, "it is not mandatory."
 
 
 
 
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01/04/2025 09:49 AM