Bengaluru: Throwing garbage on the city’s roads, drains, or vacant plots will now cost residents Rs 2,000 per offence, with no leniency for repeat violators. The Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Company Limited (BSWML) has introduced a uniform penalty in a bid to clamp down on the rampant practice of indiscriminate dumping.
From staggered fines to flat penalty
Until now, the penalty system followed a graded approach: Rs 500 for the first offence, Rs 1,000 for the second, and Rs 2,000 for the third. Officials, however, said this flexibility encouraged habitual offenders to continue polluting public spaces, treating initial fines as a small price to pay.
“From now, a uniform penalty of Rs 2,000 will be levied on all defaulters. Our message is clear: waste must be segregated into wet and dry streams and handed over only to BBMP auto-tippers instead of being dumped on roads and drains,” said BSWML chief executive officer Kari Gowda.
Marshals to step up surveillance
To ensure stricter enforcement, the city will rely heavily on marshals and junior health inspectors. Bengaluru currently has 200 marshals and 200 junior health inspectors, who are expected to monitor violations across the city. Each marshal has also been given a daily target of penalising at least 10 defaulters, ensuring constant pressure on those flouting the rules.
“We have increased the number of marshals across the city and instructed them to remain vigilant. In the initial phase, our priority is to penalise regular offenders who repeatedly dirty public spaces,” Gowda explained.
Challenges in enforcement
The enforcement drive has faced hurdles, particularly in retaining marshals. Earlier this year, over 40 of them resigned citing low pay and long working hours. With salaries ranging between Rs 15,000 and Rs 18,000, many found the demanding nature of the job unsustainable.
The situation has since improved, with salaries revised upwards to Rs 30,000, leading to better stability in the workforce. Officials believe this will strengthen the city’s ability to keep watch on violators and maintain cleaner neighbourhoods.
Strengthening grievance redressal
BSWML has also enhanced its grievance redressal system. A 24×7 digital platform has been launched, enabling citizens to report garbage dumping through multiple channels — WhatsApp at 9448197197, toll-free helpline 1533, and the Sahaaya mobile app.
According to data shared by the agency, Bengaluru received 1,483 complaints about garbage blackspots in August, of which 1,464 were resolved. In September, 515 complaints were recorded, with 423 already cleared.
To ensure efficiency in collection, auto-tippers are now scanned daily between 5.30 am and 6.30 am, allowing officials to track attendance and coverage in real time.
Crackdown on plastic use
Parallel to the anti-dumping drive, authorities are also intensifying action against banned plastics. Twenty-seven enforcement teams, led by assistant general managers, have been deployed to target manufacturers and wholesalers dealing in plastic products prohibited under state rules.
“So far, 49.1 tonnes of banned plastic have been seized, 24.6 tonnes processed, and fines worth Rs 38.1 lakh collected,” a senior BSWML official said, emphasising that the agency remains committed to making Bengaluru cleaner and more sustainable.
A push for behavioural change
Officials and civic activists say the new penalty structure must go hand in hand with public awareness. Bengaluru’s long battle with garbage has been as much about systems as about citizen behaviour, and the revised fines are expected to act as a deterrent.
For many residents, however, the real test lies in whether the city can ensure sustained enforcement rather than one-off drives. As one resident commented, “We welcome the Rs 2,000 fine, but unless the rules are applied consistently, the garbage problem will remain.”