Bengaluru Minister Orders Notices to Departments Over Waste Management Failures

Government Departments to Receive Notices Over Waste Clearance Lapses

Minister directs strict action under 'Freedom from Waste' campaign

Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has ordered civic bodies to issue notices to government departments that fail to clean their premises and surrounding areas. The directive came during a virtual review meeting on Friday to assess the progress of the ongoing Tyajyadinda Swatantra ('Freedom from Waste') campaign across the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) limits. Gowda emphasized that all government offices must ensure waste removal from their premises and adjoining areas without exception.

Campaign clears over 10,000 tonnes of waste in six days

The waste management drive, launched on August 1, has already shown significant results. Between August 1 and August 6, civic bodies cleared 10,056 tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste from 453 public locations in Bengaluru. Officials reported identifying 3,022 illegal C&D waste dumping sites across the city, containing an estimated 59,823 tonnes of debris.

Crackdown on illegal dumping and operational challenges

To sustain the momentum, Gowda instructed officials to ensure uninterrupted waste disposal at government-designated quarry sites, even during the monsoon. He also stressed preventing fresh illegal dumping at cleared locations. Marshals stationed at disposal sites are to be provided with basic amenities such as shelter, drinking water, and food, while detailed records of tipper truck movements must be maintained.

Currently, 54 tipper trucks and 18 heavy machines are deployed for waste clearance across five municipal corporations in Bengaluru. However, operational delays due to traffic restrictions during peak hours have hindered progress. Gowda directed GBA Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao to engage with senior traffic police officials to address these challenges.

Slow progress on railway land cleanup

The Minister also expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of cleanliness efforts on railway properties, despite earlier instructions. He urged officials to coordinate with railway authorities to expedite the work.

The Tyajyadinda Swatantra campaign aims to tackle Bengaluru's mounting waste crisis by enforcing stricter regulations and ensuring accountability across government and public spaces. With over 59,000 tonnes of debris still awaiting disposal, the success of the initiative depends on sustained efforts and inter-agency coordination.

Source: The Hindu