Bengaluru’s August cleanup removes 1.4 lakh tonnes of construction debris

Government agencies cleared 1,40,277 tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste across Bengaluru in August during a month-long citywide cleanup campaign, according to Greater Bengaluru Authority data.

The ‘Freedom from Waste–Just Clean Bengaluru’ campaign began on August 1 and focused on removing accumulated construction debris, soil, discarded materials and other waste dumped along roadsides, footpaths, vacant plots and other public spaces.

The Greater Bengaluru Authority had identified 1,54,073 tonnes of C&D waste across the city’s five corporations.

Of that total, the five corporations together cleared and transported 82,125 tonnes during the campaign. The material was taken to five designated disposal locations, including dysfunctional quarries.

The clearance operation targeted spaces where construction debris had accumulated and restricted the use of public areas.

Greater Bengaluru development minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the government’s next priority was to ensure that spaces cleared during the campaign were not occupied again by waste dumping.

“Our first priority is to safeguard the spaces that have been reclaimed after debris clearance. We will plan as per local needs,” he said.

The state government has also announced measures to prevent fresh dumping of C&D waste. These include registration and GPS tracking of vehicles involved in transporting construction and demolition waste.

The month-long exercise covered all five corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority.

The initiative comes amid continuing concerns over illegal dumping of construction material on roads, footpaths, vacant sites and other public spaces.

The authorities’ plans now shift from one-time clearance towards monitoring the movement of C&D waste and protecting sites that have been cleared.

The August campaign has therefore provided a citywide baseline of C&D waste while also putting in place a tracking mechanism intended to reduce repeat dumping.