The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is expected to take a decision on Tuesday on increasing the garbage cess for bars, pubs and other commercial establishments that are allowed to remain open till 1 am on all days of the week.
Mayor B N Manjunath Reddy said the extension of nightlife would lead to more garbage being generated. “We are contemplating increasing the cess. Bars and commercial establishments now pay the cess depending on the size of the building,” he told Deccan Herald.
BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad, the mayor and senior Palike officials will take part in the meeting to decide the possible hike.
The Palike’s proposal, however, has left the establishments fuming. The BBMP Hotels’ Association, which has around 1,500 hotels as members, said that each establishment was already spending Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 per month for hotel waste disposal. The hotels have tied up with Noble Exchange Environment Solutions which runs a waste management plant to process hotel waste.
“The trade licence fee has been doubled this year. We will approach the High Court and hold protest if the BBMP hikes the garbage cess,” said Chandrashekhar Hebbar, president of the association.
An owner of a pub on Church Street said that garbage was not being collected efficiently. “The hike in excise duty on the Indian Made Liquor and VAT (Value Added Tax) on aerated and carbonated non-alcoholic beverages has already pinched us,” the person said.
The manager of Russh Gastropub, also located on Church Street, said that not much garbage would be generated after 11.30 pm as most establishments did not take orders after midnight. “Garbage generation will remain more or less the same. There is no need for increase in the cess.”
Published 18 July 2016, 20:36 IST