Bengaluru authorities are escalating their battle against illegal waste burning by authorising criminal prosecutions, with penalties of up to ₹1 lakh in fines and five years’ imprisonment for offenders. The Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) announced that engineers, marshals, and junior health inspectors will now file complaints directly under multiple environmental laws, marking a significant hardening of enforcement. This follows recent controversial measures, including dumping garbage at the doorsteps of habitual litterers, as part of a broader push to enforce waste segregation and proper disposal across the city.
BSWML CEO Karee Gowda emphasised that burning garbage not only pollutes the air but also undermines the city’s waste-to-energy infrastructure, where segregated waste is processed safely to generate electricity. Residents are being urged to report violations by submitting video evidence, enabling swift action. The crackdown, set to begin in the coming days with high-profile initial cases, will invoke the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, the Environment Protection Act, 1986, and Section 19(5) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Officials argue that open burning infringes on citizens’ constitutional right to clean air under Article 21.
The initiative stems from directives by Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D. K. Shivakumar to improve urban waste management amid growing public frustration over garbage mismanagement. On Saturday, authorities demonstrated the new rigour by fining a resident ₹10,000 in Bharath Nagar near Manyata Tech Park for burning waste—an area plagued by illegal dumping and burning near commercial hubs. Marshals and BSWML teams conducted the operation, signalling zero tolerance for non-compliance in both residential and business corridors.
Also Read: Shivakumar Calls Bihar Verdict a ‘Lesson’; Seeks Overhaul of Congress and INDIA Bloc Strategy
As Bengaluru grapples with mounting waste from its booming population and tech-driven economy, this stringent policy aims to deter violations and promote accountability. By combining legal action with public participation, officials hope to shift behaviour and ensure processed waste reaches designated plants rather than contributing to hazardous air pollution. The measures reflect a growing recognition that sustainable urban living requires not just infrastructure but strict adherence to environmental regulations.
Also Read: Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Applauds DK Shivakumar’s Leadership in Bengaluru’s City Development