Bengaluru faces a potential crisis as the Bangalore Mahanagara Swachahte Matthu Lorry Malikara Hagoo Guthigedarara Sangha, representing garbage contractors and lorry owners, has publicly accused senior officials at the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd. (BSWML) of severe misconduct. The union cites ongoing harassment, deliberate delays in contractor payments stretching over several months, and unfair deductions from their monthly bills. They warn that if these critical issues are not resolved promptly, they will be forced to initiate a strike, plunging the city into a significant garbage collection disruption.
Union members have formally communicated their grievances to BSWML officials via letter, highlighting how these practices are pushing contractors into a dire financial state. They stressed that a continuation of this mistreatment would inevitably lead to a breakdown in Bengaluru’s vital garbage collection services. The union is now awaiting a crucial response from Chief Executive Officer Karee Gowda, with a deadline set for Monday.
Speaking to *The Hindu*, association members detailed how the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) have allegedly bypassed established protocols, directly issuing directives to Assistant and Deputy General Managers while ignoring contractors. Despite contractors’ cooperation with recent inspections, the letter claims they are being marginalized and subjected to arbitrary decisions. The union suggests these actions are driven by “selfish motives and personal desires,” rather than a genuine commitment to the city’s waste management efficiency.
This isn’t a new concern; the association had previously sent a letter on September 9, holding these two officials directly accountable for the escalating confusion and financial distress. They pointed out that monthly bills due to contractors have remained uncleared since April, with outstanding arrears from January adding to the burden.
“This untenable situation has forced contractors to incur penalties and interest charges from the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) and Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) departments. Even when partial payments are eventually released, unexplained deductions are frequently made from the bills, exacerbating the financial strain,” lamented a member of the BBMP Garbage Contractors Association.
The union’s letter underscored the severe ripple effects of these payment issues. Contractors are struggling to afford essential vehicle maintenance, ensure timely payment for their drivers, or adequately compensate the pourakarmikas—the frontline workers indispensable to the city’s cleanliness. Many have reportedly plunged into debt, desperately trying to maintain services.
The letter also drew attention to the daily hardships faced by workers, who are required to report for duty as early as 5:30 a.m. With public transport unavailable at such an early hour, these essential workers are forced to bear significant costs for autorickshaws or endure long walks, without any support from the authorities.
S.N. Balasubramanian, President of the BBMP Garbage Contractors Association, confirmed his direct appeals to the COO for a joint meeting between officials and contractors, noting that these requests have been ignored. He firmly stated, “If these issues are not resolved, leading to a halt in work in the coming days, the COO and CFO will be held directly responsible.”
Adding to the contractors’ woes, the Bengaluru City Traffic Police issued a circular on September 18. The Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) mandated that garbage collection lorries must not be parked on public roads, citing traffic obstruction and safety hazards. The directive insists that all vehicles must be parked exclusively in BBMP depots or officially designated areas, with strict enforcement promised for any violations.
Contractors argue that this new order creates yet another significant financial and logistical burden, requiring them to arrange secure parking for hundreds of vehicles across the city. This additional cost comes at a time when they are already grappling with delayed payments. The contractors are hoping for a constructive response from BSWML, but they are prepared to protest and halt services city-wide if their expectations are not met.