Bulk waste generators to pay more garbage cess from April 1, hoteliers oppose move

BENGALURU: After the hike in Metro fares, and the prices of milk, curds and electricity, garbage cess for bulk waste generators will also increase with effect from April 1, much to the disappointment of hoteliers in Bengaluru.

The garbage cess for bulk generators like hotels had been fixed at Rs 5 per kg which would translate to around Rs 5,000 per month. But come April, the cess will see a massive hike to Rs 12 which will work out to about Rs 30,000 per month. Darshinis and small hotels generate about 60-100 kg of waste daily and the Bengaluru hotels association has termed the hike in cess as unscientific.

Bengaluru hotels association president PC Rao said, “Disposal of garbage has been a huge problem for many years and there seems to be some kind of conspiracy. Increasing the cess to Rs 12 per kg is unscientific. Disposal of garbage is the civic body’s responsibility and we are already paying huge taxes”.

Further, he said, “We have already held discussions with BBMP officials. The increased cess is a huge burden on us and also injustice. They are also collecting cess from houses. We will oppose the unscientific hike in garbage cess”.