In a bold crackdown on chronic littering, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) have rolled out what they call the Kasa Surivua Habba — or Garbage Dumping Festival — across 190 wards in the city’s five corporations. The campaign, launched on Thursday under the direction of Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar, aims to discipline residents who continue to flout civic cleanliness norms.

According to BSWML Managing Director Karee Gowda, marshals have been tasked with recording videos of offenders dumping waste in public spots. Using the footage, officials trace the offenders’ residences and contact details before delivering a truckload of garbage to their doorsteps as a form of public accountability. “Our marshals track habitual offenders and confront them with evidence of their actions. This initiative is meant to make them realize the consequence of their negligence,” Gowda explained.

Officials said that despite providing extensive waste collection infrastructure — including doorstep pickup through auto tippers, removal of garbage blackspots, and public awareness campaigns — many residents continue to dispose of plastic and polythene waste on roadsides and street corners. The city’s waste management teams have been struggling to maintain cleanliness amid rising urban waste generation.

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The initiative follows Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar’s recent Walk With Citizens drive in Bengaluru East, where he witnessed littering hotspots firsthand. Following the inspection, he issued a directive to GBA Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, ordering immediate action against violators and systematic enforcement across all zones.

Engineers at BSWML said the campaign is already receiving public attention, with several cases recorded in central and eastern zones. Officials hope the high-visibility approach will act as a deterrent and foster community responsibility toward waste disposal. “We are not embarrassing people for fun; the goal is to remind everyone that civic hygiene starts at home,” a senior waste management officer added.

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