Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar launches 'Freedom from Waste' drive in Bengaluru

On 1 August 2026 Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar inaugurated a month‑long "Freedom from Waste" campaign in Bengaluru. The initiative, coordinated by the five Greater Bengaluru Authority city corporations, Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited and multiple state agencies, aims to remove construction and demolition debris, illegal dumping and other waste from public spaces.

Officials said the city faces about 1,616 waste‑laden sites containing roughly 22 000 tonnes of material. The campaign will deploy the BSWML "Clearit" software to register waste‑transport vehicles, monitor locations and enforce disposal rules. Measures include seizing vehicles that dump waste illegally, stricter norms for vacant plots and a policy to reclaim or double‑tax plots if houses are not built within five years.

The government called for civic participation, urging NGOs and resident groups to adopt roads and localities. Opposition leader R. Ashoka of the BJP criticised the launch, arguing that the city needs a parallel "Just Fill Potholes" campaign to address dangerous road conditions.