Bengaluru Freedom from Waste campaign will clear legacy waste, reclaim public spaces and enforce stricter construction debris disposal across the city
The Karnataka government will launch the month-long Freedom from Waste campaign across Bengaluru from August 1 to remove legacy waste from footpaths, roadsides, vacant sites and public spaces. The initiative will cover the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) area, with civic agencies coordinating the removal of construction debris, mud and other accumulated waste while introducing measures to prevent illegal dumping.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government will launch a city-wide Freedom from Waste campaign from August 1, aiming to remove legacy waste from footpaths, roadsides, public spaces and vacant sites across Bengaluru. The drive, led by the Greater Bengaluru Development Department, will be inaugurated by D. K. Shivakumar, while Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda announced the campaign following a review meeting with civic agencies on Wednesday.
The campaign will run throughout August across the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) limits and will focus on clearing construction and demolition (C&D) debris, mud, soil, discarded pipes, electricity poles, stones, weeds and other bulky legacy waste that has accumulated over several years. Household waste black spots will be addressed in a later phase.
"This is about giving Bengalureans back the spaces that belong to them. A footpath buried under debris is not a footpath. Our first task is to physically reclaim these spaces, and then to make sure they are never lost again." Krishna Byre Gowda
Bengaluru Legacy Waste Survey Identifies 22,000 Tonnes
According to the Greater Bengaluru Development Department, a city-wide survey has identified nearly 22,000 tonnes of legacy waste spread across 1,616 locations. Officials estimate that the total quantity of such waste across Bengaluru could exceed one lakh tonnes.
The identified waste includes construction debris, soil deposits, discarded utility materials and overgrown vegetation occupying roadsides, footpaths, vacant plots and government-owned land, restricting pedestrian movement and affecting public spaces.
The government stated that unchecked dumping has also contributed to weed growth and created conditions that support rodents, mosquitoes and snakes while encouraging repeated illegal disposal at the same locations.
Multiple Civic Agencies to Participate in Bengaluru Clean-Up
The clean-up drive will be coordinated by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) along with the city's five municipal corporations and several government agencies, including Indian Railways, Bangalore Development Authority, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, BESCOM, K-RIDE and the National Highways Authority of India.
Around 100 vehicles have been deployed for waste removal, with officials directed to increase deployment wherever necessary. Designated disposal locations have been identified across all five GBA zones.
"Bengaluru's civic challenges cannot be solved by one agency working alone. Every department that owns land in this city is part of this campaign, and every department is accountable for what lies on it." Krishna Byre Gowda
Vacant Site Owners Given Deadline Until August 15
The government has appealed to owners of vacant sites to remove accumulated waste, soil and vegetation from their properties before August 15.
City corporations will provide contact details of authorised contractors engaged in waste removal to assist property owners.
If vacant sites are not cleaned by the deadline, the respective city corporation will undertake the work and recover the cost along with property tax. The schedule of recovery charges will be announced separately.
GPS Mandatory for Construction Waste Transport Vehicles
To curb illegal dumping of construction debris, the government announced that all vehicles transporting Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste will be required to install GPS devices.
Only registered vehicles will be permitted to transport C&D waste. Officials from the Greater Bengaluru Authority, Police Department and Transport Department will jointly finalise the implementation framework.
An authorised agency has also been appointed for the scientific disposal of C&D waste. The user charge has been fixed at ₹760 per tonne, and construction waste must be handed over only to registered disposal agencies.
Government Launches Just Clean Bengaluru Initiative
The minister also appealed to citizens to participate in the Just Clean Bengaluru (JCB) initiative, stating that sustained public participation is necessary to prevent waste from returning to cleared locations.
Officials said all cleaned areas will remain under continuous monitoring, and action will be taken against those found dumping waste in public places. Citizens have been instructed to dispose of waste only at locations designated by the respective city corporations.
"Government machinery can clear the debris. Keeping it clear is something we can only do together. I urge every citizen, every site owner and every resident welfare association to treat this as their own campaign for a cleaner Bengaluru." Krishna Byre Gowda
The review meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Tushar Giri Nath, Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, BWSSB Chairperson Manjula, senior municipal commissioners, officials from BESCOM, Traffic Police, Railways, K-RIDE, KIADB, BDA, NHAI and other civic departments.
