Greater Bengaluru Authority imposes waste removal fees on vacant site owners

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has issued a notice under its ‘Freedom from Waste’ campaign, warning owners of vacant sites that they must clear accumulated garbage, vegetation, and debris by August 15, 2026. Failure to comply will result in the Municipal Corporation undertaking the cleanup and recovering the costs from property owners via their property tax bills.

According to the GBA’s schedule of charges, costs vary based on site dimensions and the presence of compound walls. For a 4,000 sq ft site with a compound wall, combined cleaning and waste transportation fees can reach approximately ₹1,75,700. Smaller sites, such as 600 sq ft plots, face combined charges starting around ₹25,900.

Opposition leader R Ashoka of the BJP has criticized the move, labeling the additional fees as illegal and an attempt to ‘loot Bengaluru.’ Ashoka argued that residents are already burdened by standard municipal and property taxes, characterizing the new levies as double taxation and an autocratic approach to governance.