Starting April 1, property owners in Bengaluru may see a rise in their tax bills, following the Karnataka government’s approval of a user fee for domestic waste disposal. The Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) proposed this charge last November, and while a formal order has yet to be issued, the fee has been sanctioned by the Urban Development Department, led by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
The fee is intended to support essential services like door-to-door waste collection and disposal, with the BSWML estimating it could generate up to Rs 600 crore annually, possibly more. The fee will be integrated into property taxes and vary depending on the size of the building, with six different slabs ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 400 per month. Smaller buildings (up to 600 sq ft) will face the lowest charges, while larger properties (over 4,000 sq ft) will incur the highest fees.
For bulk waste generators, such as large apartment complexes and commercial institutions, the government has permitted BSWML to levy an additional Rs 12 per kg of waste if they do not use an empanelled agency for processing. This surcharge adds an extra layer of financial responsibility for these entities.
The existing Solid Waste Management (SWM) Cess, a component of property tax for maintaining public spaces, will remain in place. Critics argue that the new user fee lacks scientific rigor and may increase the financial burden on citizens. However, the government maintains that the fee is vital for improving Bengaluru’s waste management system.
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