Starting April 1, Bengaluru residents will see an extra charge added to their property tax bills—a newly introduced user fee for domestic waste collection and disposal, approved by the Karnataka government.
As reported by Deccan Herald, this policy applies to all households generating waste in the city.
Fee Structure Based on Property Size
The new charges are divided into six slabs depending on property size:
- Homes up to 600 sq ft will pay ₹10 per month.
- Properties over 4,000 sq ft will be charged ₹400 per month.
- A standard three-storey building on a 30×40 sq ft plot may incur a ₹150 monthly fee.
This fee is in addition to the existing Solid Waste Management (SWM) cess, which is already included in property tax to fund public space maintenance.
Revenue Projections & Government Justification
The fee is expected to generate around ₹750 crore annually, contributing to an increased budget of ₹1,400 crore for Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML). BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath explained that while they aim to collect ₹750 crore through this user fee, the remaining amount will be covered through BBMP’s other revenue sources. Previously, the agency received ₹1,085 crore from BBMP’s budget.
Implementation Timeline
Although the official order is yet to be issued, the Urban Development Department, under Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, approved the proposal earlier this year. BBMP plans to start collecting this user fee alongside property tax from the 2025–26 financial year, as confirmed by BBMP Special Commissioner (Finance) Dr. Harish Kumar P during the recent city budget announcement.
Public Concerns & Opposition
This is the first time BBMP has officially recognized a user fee for household waste management, despite BSWML proposing the idea in November 2023, citing the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, and various court directives.
However, not everyone supports the move. Poongothai Paramasivam from the Bengaluru NavaNirmana Party (BNP) questioned the necessity of the new charge, arguing:
“BBMP has sufficient funds. Before imposing a user fee, it must justify why the existing budget is inadequate. Where is the money going? Why is there no audit or public disclosure of SWM expenditures?”
She further pointed out that while Swachh Survekshan guidelines permit urban bodies to levy such fees, they are not mandatory.
