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While the formal order is yet to be issued, the Urban Development Department, headed by Vice President DK Shivkumar, has approved the proposal to impose a user fee for domestic waste generators in the city.
This user fee for waste generators in Bengaluru will be integrated into property tax and calculated based on the underlying area of properties.
From 1 April, Bangalore residents may see an increase in their property tax payment as the Karnataka government has introduced a new user fee for domestic waste generators in the city. While the formal order is yet to be issued, the Urban Development Department headed by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar has approved the proposal made by Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) in November last year.
Just one month after the property tax hike, Namma Metro implemented the fare hike of 45 to 50 percent.
The purpose of the user fee is to provide finance to waste collection and disposal services, although critics have expressed concern to become unscientific in its implementation as the fund will be used for services such as door-to-door waste collection and disposal. BSWML expects to generate about Rs 600 crore annually from this levy, in which the estimate also suggests high possible revenue.
This fee will be integrated into property tax and calculated based on the underlying area of assets. Six slabs have been installed, from 600 square feet to 600 square feet to 400 rupees per month for more than 4,000 square feet per month, as a result, the residents are likely to experience a significant increase in their annual property tax burden.
For bulk waste generators, including large apartment complexes and commercial installations, an additional fee of Rs 12 per kg per kg will be applicable if failed to attach an Epen -agency for waste processing. This can significantly affect operational costs for such institutions.
In particular, the current solid waste management (SWM) cess – used for public hygiene efforts such as road cleaning – will remain unchanged. The new user fee is expected to complement these funds, although its introduction has given rise to debate.
While the government essentially defends measurements to improve waste management in the city, some critics argue that its execution lacks scientific rigor and unevenly burden taxpayers. The effectiveness of the new system is to be observed, but its financial implications are clear for the residents of Bengaluru.
