Bengaluru: Describing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike’s (BBMP) newly-imposed Solid Waste Management (SWM) User Fee as "completely illegal", senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwathnarayan on Wednesday demanded its immediate withdrawal, alleging that the order violated both government directives and BBMP's own bylaws.
"This is an illegal order — it contradicts the very bylaws notified by the Government of Karnataka. BBMP is not entitled to collect this fee, and it must be withdrawn in the interest of citizens of Bengaluru," he told reporters here.
Ashwathnarayan pointed out that the BBMP was already collecting a Solid Waste Management cess and that the additional levy in the form of a user fee was arbitrary and unscientific. He claimed that bulk generators, including large apartment complexes and commercial establishments who already manage their own waste, were being unfairly charged.
"Even those who dispose of their waste on their own are being slapped with heavy fees. The charges are not based on the amount of waste generated but on the size of the building, which is completely unscientific," he said.
The BJP leader accused BBMP of misusing its authority to collect revenue for what he termed as "wasteful expenditure," and warned that the move would make Bengaluru more unaffordable for its residents.
He said the civic body was seeking to collect over Rs 3,000 crore through this fee, despite already collecting Rs 700 crore under the SWM cess. "Yet, the city is littered with piles of garbage. What justification does BBMP have to collect more?" he asked.
Ashwathnarayan also criticised the BBMP for "stealthily" including the new fee in the property tax for 2025-26 without public awareness or consultation. "People are only now realising the extra charges. This stealthy approach is unacceptable," he said.
Stating that the BJP had brought the issue to the attention of both the public and the government, Ashwathnarayan reiterated his demand for immediate withdrawal of the BBMP circular.
