Following a controversial “garbage-dumping festival” that garnered significant online attention, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has taken a firm stance against littering in Bengaluru. He has issued a strong message to residents contributing to the city’s waste problem, calling out those who “tarnish Bengaluru’s image” and pledging to escalate the crackdown on littering across the city.
In a recent statement, Shivakumar indicated that all five civic corporations have been instructed to bolster their surveillance and patrolling efforts to combat indiscriminate waste disposal. This includes increased CCTV monitoring throughout Bengaluru, with ward-level teams actively identifying violators using the footage. Offenders will face fines, and in some instances, their improperly disposed garbage will be returned to them as a direct warning. Shivakumar emphasized that this initiative will proceed regardless of public reaction.
Drawing inspiration from his visit to Mumbai, the Deputy Chief Minister noted that similar waste management challenges exist in other metropolitan areas. Bengaluru is currently studying Mumbai’s model, where road contractors are also responsible for waste collection and disposal. Authorities are contemplating assigning similar duties to contractors in Bengaluru.
Shivakumar also urged citizens to actively participate in maintaining the city’s cleanliness by segregating their waste and ensuring it is handed over only to authorized collection vehicles. Addressing concerns about irregular waste pickups, he assured that the system is functioning daily under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).
In addition to waste management, the government is exploring the implementation of advanced asphalt technology for Bengaluru’s roads, similar to systems used in Hyderabad and other cities. This technology aims to ensure roads have a lifespan of at least ten years. Proposals for a minimum of 10 km of work using this technology are currently under review.