The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised the Congress-led Karnataka government over the introduction of a garbage user fee, calling it an unnecessary and unjustified burden on Bengaluru residents. The fee, charged in addition to the existing garbage cess, has faced a significant backlash from the opposition party.
Addressing reporters at the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) meeting, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said that Congress is imposing “steep and unnecessary taxes” and turning garbage management into a revenue generating venture. “They are planning a scheme to extract money from garbage. This is the highest garbage tax in the country. While Kempegowda earned the title of Nadaprabhu for building the state, Congress leaders have earned the title of those who ruined it,” said Ashoka. He added that the move would increase expenses for households, commercial establishments, hospitals, schools, and marriage halls.
In March, while announcing the 2025-26 BBMP budget, the BBMP had introduced a user fee for garbage collection which will be collected along with property tax from 1 April, at the start of the 2025–26 financial year. The fee is based on the built-up area, with six different slabs, and is set to increase by 5% annually.
Ashoka argued that the garbage tender is valued at only Rs 147 crore, yet the combined cess and fee could generate over Rs 500 crore or more exceeding the actual requirement. He demanded the government to choose between cess and user fee, rather than levying both. Ashoka alleged that the collections are being diverted to fund the “five guarantees” schemes by Congress.
The BJP submitted a representation to BBMP Administrator Tushar Giri Nath, accusing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar for mismanaging the city. In the representation, they alleged that CM Siddaramaiah has made Bengaluru more expensive than Dubai and criticised DK Shivakumar for pursuing the unrealistic “Brand Bengaluru” initiative.
It further criticised the government for the formation of Greater Bengaluru Authority and the division of the city into six municipalities, a move BJP alleges would disenfranchise long-term residents. It also alleged that no major infrastructure projects have been implemented in the past two years, and that the Brand Bengaluru initiative offers only an illusion of development.
This is not the first time Bengaluru residents have been asked to pay for garbage collection. A similar fee was announced by the BBMP in 2020 but was later withdrawn following strong public opposition.