Cess for mess: Newly proposed garbage fee sparks debate in Bengaluru

BENGALURU:  The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is set to introduce a new garbage cess, a move that has stirred strong reactions from various stakeholders.

BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath announced on Monday that bulk waste generators, including apartment complexes, hotels, and malls, will be charged Rs 12 per kg of garbage they generate.

This proposal, now awaiting state government approval, aims to curb the increasing burden on Bengaluru’s landfills and garbage collection system.

Why the garbage cess?

Girinath highlighted that several bulk waste generators produce over 100 kg of waste daily but have not been contributing financially to its disposal. These establishments rely on BBMP’s compactors, leading to excessive landfill usage.

The proposed cess is intended to regulate and incentivize responsible waste management. If bulk waste generators fail to disclose their waste details, they may face a doubled cess rate for up to four months under solid waste management rules.

“We are in discussions with bulk waste generators such as apartments, hotels, and industries to ensure they are listed with empanelled waste processors. If this is implemented efficiently, it will benefit the city in the long run,” Girinath stated.

Financial impact on businesses, residents

Under the new cess structure, hotels will now be required to pay Rs 12 per kg of waste, compared to the previous Rs 5. This steep increase has caused concern among hotel owners. Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels’ Association (BBHA) President P.C. Rao expressed alarm, stating that small hotel owners could be paying around Rs 35,000 per month under the new structure.

“We have 2,000 members, and we are convening a meeting to discuss this issue. Following our discussions, we will present our concerns to the government and BBMP,” Rao said.

Meanwhile, residential buildings will also be subject to a graded cess based on their square footage. Households will now have to pay monthly garbage cess fees ranging from Rs 10 for homes up to 600 square feet to Rs 400 for properties above 4,000 square feet.

The BBMP plans to collect this cess annually through property tax, aiming to generate Rs 600 crore per year for city waste management.

A political flashpoint

The garbage cess has also ignited political controversy. Opposition leader and BJP MLA R. Ashoka strongly criticized the move, accusing the ruling government of using garbage disposal as an excuse to fill state coffers.

In a social media post, Ashoka lambasted the Congress-led Karnataka government, saying, “The government, which failed to manage Bengaluru’s garbage, is now charging citizens for their inefficiency. This is nothing but an excuse to loot people under the guise of garbage management.”

A city at crossroads

The garbage cess comes at a time when Bengaluru residents are already grappling with increased milk and electricity prices. Just last week, the Karnataka government announced a Rs 4 per litre hike for Nandini milk and curd, effective April 1, further adding to the financial burden on citizens.

While the BBMP insists that the cess will improve waste management and reduce landfill dependency, many residents and businesses argue that they are being unfairly penalized for systemic inefficiencies. The coming weeks will be crucial as stakeholders, government officials, and opposition leaders negotiate the future of the garbage cess.

Will this move make Bengaluru a cleaner city, or will it become yet another financial strain on its people?

Only time will tell.