Bengaluru is famous for its tall apartment buildings, but the people living in them are facing two big problems. The group that represents these residents, called the Bangalore Apartments Federation (BAF), is asking the Karnataka government to fix these issues right now.
1. The Need for a New Apartment Law (KAOMA 2025)
Right now, apartments in Bengaluru follow a law from 1972. This law is over 50 years old and was made when there were very few apartments in the city. Because the law is so old, it does not work well for modern buildings.
The Problem: The old law makes it hard for residents to truly own the land their building stands on. It also makes it difficult to manage common areas like gardens, gyms, and parking lots. When there are fights between neighbors or with the builder, the old law does not provide clear rules on how to fix them.
The Goal: The BAF wants the government to pass a new law called the Karnataka Apartment Ownership and Management Act (KAOMA) 2025. This new law would make it easy to transfer land ownership to the residents and give clear rules for running an apartment association. Even though the government promised this law would be ready by July 2025, it still hasn't been passed.
2. High Fees for Trash Collection
The second big problem is about how much residents pay for garbage collection. A new rule by the city's waste management department is making apartment owners pay much more than people living in regular houses.
The Inequality: If you live in a normal house on a street, you pay about 100 rupees a month for trash through your property tax. But if you live in an apartment building with more than 100 flats, the city calls you a bulk generator.
The Financial Burden: Because of this label, apartment residents are being charged 12 rupees for every kilogram of trash, plus an extra 18 percent tax (GST). This adds up to about 360 rupees a month for each flat. This is nearly four times more than what people in houses pay.
The Argument: Many apartments already spent a lot of money to set up their own composting systems to handle wet waste. Residents feel they are being punished with higher fees even though they are helping the city by processing their own trash. They believe it is unfair to charge families more just because they live in a flat instead of a house.
3. Better Ways to Fix the Problem
The BAF has suggested a few simple ideas to make things fair:
Stop the Extra Tax: Change how payments are made so residents don't have to pay the 18 percent GST.
Buy Back Compost: The city should buy the compost made by apartments to help them cover their costs.
Talk to Residents: The government should talk to apartment owners before they decide to raise fees or change laws.
Conclusion
In short, apartment owners in Bengaluru feel like they are being treated unfairly. They pay a lot of property taxes but are stuck with a 50-year-old law that doesn't protect them. At the same time, they are being forced to pay much higher trash fees than their neighbors in independent houses.
The BAF is demanding that the government finally passes the new 2025 law and reduces the garbage charges. They want the government to treat apartment residents like equal citizens, not just as a way to collect more money. If the government listens, it will make living in Bengaluru's high-rises much more affordable and legally secure for everyone.
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