Poor citizen participation marks start of Bengaluru’s 10-day cleaning drive

Bengaluru: Just days after levying a steep solid waste management (SWM) user fee alongside property tax, BBMP launched a 10-day citywide cleaning drive across all eight zones Monday. However, Day 1 of the campaign saw lukewarm participation from citizens, resident welfare associations, and NGOs.
Pourakarmikas, assisted by marshals, were seen clearing garbage, construction and demolition (C&D) debris, and other waste across various wards. But several civic activists expressed frustration, claiming they weren't informed about the schedule or coordination plans. Others questioned the logic of seeking public involvement in a clean-up campaign after collecting hefty user fees.
According to Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML), around 1,500 black spots across the city have been identified for clearing during the drive.
Santosh Kumar, a resident of RR Nagar and member of Bangalore Political Action Committee (BPAC), said, "Our RWA wasn't informed about the drive, but I joined through BPAC. BBMP has a well-defined cleaning plan in place, but the problem is people don't know about it. Timings are also a concern. I even requested early-morning slots so that volunteers could pitch in before heading to work. The intention to involve citizens is commendable, but it needs better execution if they want more participation over the next nine days."
To brief RWAs and volunteers about the 10-day clean-up drive, BSWML officials held a Zoom meeting Sunday evening. But many attendees left disappointed.
Valli Srinivasan, a resident of Kasavanahalli, said, "We joined the meeting hoping for clear details, but all they told us was the drive was happening. That's it. And frankly, no one can participate on weekdays if the drive is scheduled between 10am and 3pm."
Shivakumar V, general secretary of Domlur Layout RWA, said: "All the top officials are in offices while the same pourakarmikas are out on the ground. This looks like a cover-up for the steep SWM user fee being collected. We're already paying hefty amounts, so why should we clean the garbage too? What message is BBMP trying to send?"
Ramamani, COO of BSWML, said, "The whole purpose of this drive is to clear all the black spots so that we're ready for the upcoming monsoon."
When asked about the quantity of waste collected and the extent of roads cleared, three deputy general managers heading the drive said they didn't have adequate information on that.
Reality check
When TOI visited Marathahalli ward for a ground report, a handful of pourakarmikas and a marshal were seen clearing garbage along the stretch between Manjunath Nagar and Sanjay Nagar, loading it into trucks and tractors.
The marshal overseeing the work said, "We tried reaching out to local RWAs, but none of them joined the drive for their reasons. Also, we're facing challenges in collecting garbage at full capacity because of a shortage of autos and tippers."