BNP Demands Immediate Rollback of Solid Waste Management Fee; Writes to DyCM, BBMP Top Brass
Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Nav Nirman Party (BNP) has come out strongly against BBMP’s move to impose and collect Solid Waste Management (SWM) user fees, alleging the process is illogical, arbitrary and exploitative, especially in the absence of an elected civic council.
The #IWontPay campaign, launched by BNP, has reportedly garnered support from over 2,800 Bengalureans, especially apartment residents and vacant plot owners, many of whom claim they are being charged without availing BBMP waste services or even generating waste.
Citizens Speak: ‘Why Pay for Services Not Availed?’
BNP founder Srikanth Narasimhan lashed out at BBMP, questioning the rationale behind the sweeping imposition:
❝This is outright exploitation. How can BBMP charge people without identifying who actually uses its services?❞
The controversy intensified after April 20, when BBMP quietly introduced exemptions for 'bulk waste generators' — primarily apartment complexes — but many had already paid the fee, often double, due to a lack of clarity and communication.
Key Concerns Raised:
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Vacant plot owners are being charged despite producing no waste.
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Small apartment complexes (under 100 units) are facing double billing, not clearly identified as bulk generators.
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Thousands paid before the exemption announcements, yet no mechanism for a refund or adjustment.
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Citizens allege zero accountability, opaque processes, and the absence of basic logic in billing.
❝BBMP cannot justify billing citizens for services not rendered. There's no elected council — yet unilateral decisions like this are being taken. Parking fees, waste user fees… what next?❞
— Poongothai Paramasivan, BNP Executive Board Member
BNP’s Demands in Letter to Officials:
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Full waiver of the SWM user service fee for 2025.
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Immediate refund of all fees wrongly collected this year.
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Clear identification criteria for bulk waste generators.
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Transparent communication with citizens before imposing charges.
Letters have been submitted to:
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Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar
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BBMP Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao
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Revenue Special Commissioner Munish Moudgil
What’s Next:
BNP plans to escalate the issue with:
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Public petitions
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Protests if necessary
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Legal action should the BBMP fail to respond with corrective measures
Citizens Demand Reform, Not Revenue:
This controversy adds to the growing discontent around BBMP’s governance vacuum, marked by the absence of elected representatives and repeated instances of unilateral fee impositions.
“Garbage collection is broken. Services are inconsistent. First fix the system — then talk about fees.”
— Resident, Whitefield
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