DK Shivakumar Warns Bengaluru Property Owners To Remove Waste Or Face Action

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has launched a month-long 'Freedom from Waste' campaign to clear construction and demolition debris across the city, with authorities warning property owners to remove waste from vacant plots or face penalties. The initiative, which will continue throughout August, aims to improve cleanliness, curb illegal dumping and address public health concerns arising from waste accumulation. Officials have identified 1,616 locations containing an estimated 22,730 metric tonnes of construction debris, inert waste, tree branches and other refuse requiring removal.

Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the campaign seeks to eliminate waste that has become both an eyesore and a health hazard. He noted that construction debris often becomes overgrown with weeds, creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes, rats and snakes, while also encouraging the dumping of household garbage. Gowda said the current drive focuses on construction and demolition waste, adding that a separate campaign targeting household waste will be undertaken after the ongoing initiative concludes.

The campaign is being jointly implemented by the city's five municipal corporations under the GBA, along with Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML), the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), BESCOM, BMRCL, Indian Railways, K-RIDE, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB). Authorities have urged owners of vacant sites to clear waste from their properties by August 15, warning that civic bodies will remove the debris and recover the cost from property owners if they fail to comply.

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Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar issued a strong warning, stating that maintaining private properties is as much the responsibility of citizens as maintaining public roads is the responsibility of the government. He said notices could be issued to owners of vacant plots that remain undeveloped for extended periods, adding that community participation is essential to keeping Bengaluru clean. Officials also announced that illegal dumping will attract a fine of Rs 25,000 for the first offence, while repeat violations could result in penalties ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

To support the cleanup drive, authorities have deployed 70 tippers to transport waste to designated disposal sites at Yarappanahalli, Marenahalli, Venkatapura, Vittasandra and Kallubalu. Calling on residents to support the initiative, Gowda urged citizens to take collective responsibility for the city's cleanliness. Bengaluru South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya also appealed to the public to participate in the campaign, saying the city's growing problem of debris, waste and poor roads requires joint efforts from both the government and residents to restore Bengaluru's civic environment.

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