NEW DELHI: Union minister Pralhad Joshi and other BJP leaders strongly criticized the Karnataka government’s decision to implement a garbage collection fee in Bengaluru starting April 1, with the opposition claiming the Congress-led state government has gone bankrupt and is burdening citizens with additional taxes.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has introduced a “solid waste management user fee” that requires Bengaluru residents to pay for garbage collection and disposal on a monthly basis.

“The Karnataka government has become garbage for the nation. The state government has gone pauper, bankrupt. Today, there is so much inflation in Karnataka, and now this ‘Garbage tax.’ I condemn it,” said Union Minister Pralhad Joshi while speaking to reporters.
Different fee structures have been established for residential buildings, shops, and hotels under the new waste management system.
BJP MP K Sudhakar criticized the Congress government, accusing them of finding new ways to tax common people through the “garbage cess.”
“From today, the Congress government is imposing a cess even on garbage! It is draining the blood of the people!” stated union minister HD Kumaraswamy in a press release expressing his outrage over the implementation.
Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra has also spoken out against the price hikes. “They are taxing on everything as they’re failing to fulfill the amount for guarantees. State government gives in the name of guarantee in one hand and in other all ways its looting the people, we are protesting against it,” he told reporters.
The BJP is organizing a series of protests across Karnataka against the Congress government over rising prices.
The implementation of the garbage cess follows recent increases in milk and electricity rates in the state.
The solid waste management company will now collect a monthly cess for trash collection, adding to the financial burden on Bengaluru residents.
BJP leaders argue that the Congress government is imposing additional taxes because it lacks funds to fulfill its promised guarantees to the people of Karnataka.