Bengaluru‘s new solid waste management contracts have ignited the first major political confrontation of the new Karnataka government, with allegations of a multi-crore scam leading to a sharp exchange between Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition R. Ashok.
Opposition alleges ₹39,000 crore garbage scam
Ashok approached Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and the Karnataka Lokayukta, alleging irregularities in the newly approved Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) tenders.
The BJP leader claimed that the tender process involved a ₹39,000 crore contract and alleged a ₹10,000 crore kickback. He demanded a thorough investigation into the matter and questioned the manner in which the project received approval.
Tender approval under scrutiny
According to Ashok, the tender proposal was cleared by the Cabinet shortly before the change in leadership in the state government. He further alleged that the approval was granted despite objections from several ministers.
The new ISWM contracts are crucial for Bengaluru’s waste management system and are expected to shape garbage collection, transportation and processing across the city for years to come.
Shivakumar hits back
Responding strongly to the allegations, Shivakumar dismissed the claims and accused Ashok of acting as a “spokesperson for the garbage mafia”.
The Chief Minister defended the government’s decisions and questioned the motives behind the allegations, turning the issue into a fresh political battleground between the ruling Congress and the BJP.
Political storm over Bengaluru’s waste management
With waste management remaining one of Bengaluru’s biggest civic challenges, the controversy is likely to intensify in the coming weeks. The opposition is pressing for a probe, while the government maintains that the tender process was transparent and aimed at improving the city’s garbage management system