Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar on Saturday launched the ‘Freedom from Waste’ campaign, a city-wide initiative aimed at removing construction and demolition (C&D) waste dumped illegally on roadsides across Bengaluru. The campaign brings together multiple government agencies to clear thousands of tonnes of debris and improve the city’s cleanliness while encouraging greater public participation in maintaining civic spaces.

The campaign was flagged off in the presence of senior ministers, MLAs and officials from various civic agencies. Authorities hope the initiative will not only remove accumulated waste but also deter illegal dumping through stricter enforcement.

Multi-agency campaign to tackle construction waste

The ‘Freedom from Waste’ campaign involves coordinated efforts by several government departments and civic bodies, including the five city corporations, BESCOM, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).

These agencies will jointly identify, collect and dispose of construction and demolition waste lying along roadsides and public spaces across Bengaluru.

The initiative has been launched to address the growing problem of illegal dumping, which has affected the city’s appearance, public health and traffic movement in several areas.

Officials said the campaign would focus on clearing debris from identified locations while strengthening monitoring mechanisms to prevent fresh dumping.

Over 22,700 tonnes of debris identified

According to an initial assessment by the government, nearly 22,732 tonnes of construction and demolition waste have been found dumped at around 1,616 locations across Bengaluru.

However, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the actual quantity of illegally dumped waste could be significantly higher.

He observed that indiscriminate dumping of construction debris has continued for years, resulting in the accumulation of massive quantities of waste that have become environmental and public health hazards.

The minister said the government was committed to clearing all identified locations under the campaign.

Chief Minister calls for public participation

Addressing the gathering after launching the campaign, Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar emphasised that Bengaluru belongs not only to the government but also to its citizens.

He urged residents to display civic responsibility and actively contribute to keeping the city clean.

According to the Chief Minister, while the government would fulfil its responsibility by clearing accumulated waste, public cooperation would be essential to ensure that the problem does not recur.

He appealed to citizens to avoid littering and support efforts aimed at improving Bengaluru’s urban environment.

Strict action against illegal dumping

The Chief Minister also directed the police to take stringent action against individuals and vehicles involved in illegally dumping construction debris on roadsides.

He instructed authorities to identify such vehicles, register cases against offenders and seize vehicles found transporting and dumping waste unlawfully.

Shivakumar noted that earlier attempts to monitor illegal dumping through surveillance cameras and issuing notices had yielded only temporary improvements before the practice resumed.

He stressed the need for sustained enforcement to permanently curb violations.

NGOs invited to adopt roads

As part of the campaign, the Chief Minister invited non-governmental organisations, educational institutions and other organisations to participate in maintaining cleanliness in the city.

Instead of adopting entire localities, he suggested that organisations could take responsibility for maintaining a few roads or streets.

He said the government would recognise and honour organisations that consistently maintain cleanliness in their adopted areas by presenting them with appreciation certificates.

The proposal aims to strengthen community participation and foster a sense of shared responsibility for Bengaluru’s public spaces.

Campaign aims for cleaner Bengaluru

The ‘Freedom from Waste’ campaign represents one of the state’s major initiatives to address the long-standing issue of illegal construction waste disposal in Bengaluru.

By combining the efforts of multiple civic agencies, stricter law enforcement and public participation, the government hopes to significantly improve the city’s cleanliness and reduce environmental hazards caused by roadside debris.

Officials said the campaign would continue until identified waste dumps are cleared, while parallel measures would focus on preventing future violations through surveillance, enforcement and greater public awareness.