Bengaluru: Despite repeated awareness campaigns, the menace of littering continues to plague the city’s streets. To tackle the problem, Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) have decided that those caught throwing garbage in public will have piles of waste dumped right outside their homes and will be fined between Rs 2,000 and Rs 10,000.As part of this initiative, city marshals will record videos of people discarding waste in public areas. Once identified, the offenders’ homes will be traced, and truckloads of garbage will be deposited at their doorstep. These videos will also be shared on social media to name and shame repeat offenders. “Enough awareness campaigns have been conducted. Yet, many people continue to throw garbage wherever they please. We are taking strict action to send a strong message,” said Karee Gowda, managing director of BSWML. “Marshals are already on the ground recording such violations. The garbage will be cleared a few hours after being dumped, but offenders will face fines between Rs 2,000 and Rs 10,000. There will be no scope for arguments, we will show them video proof,” he added. “We are determined to keep Bengaluru clean, and there will be zero tolerance of those who litter.”According to BSWML, the initiative follows the city’s success in reducing the number of blackspots — garbage dumping zones — from 869 to 150 through sustained citizen awareness drives. However, the persistence of littering in some areas has prompted the authorities to take a more hardline approach. Deputy chief minister and Bengaluru development minister DK Shivakumar has also directed officials to ensure stricter enforcement to maintain city cleanliness.
