Bengaluru Minister inspects sanitation services and warns officials

Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda conducted surprise early-morning inspections of garbage disposal and road conditions in areas including Hennur, Agara Lake, Ramamurthy Nagar, and Kasturi Nagar. During the visit, the minister criticized the work attitude of officials and warned that staff who are frequently absent from duty could face dismissal.

Addressing the demand for the regularization of pourakarmikas (sanitation workers), the minister stated that permanent employment would only be considered for those who consistently report to work, noting that approximately 30 percent of the workforce is currently absent. This stance drew support from entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who emphasized that city cleanliness must be a priority before discussing job security.

To improve waste management, the government plans to transition from one-ton auto tippers to three-ton capacity vehicles and will mandate GPS tracking for all collection vehicles. The goal is to increase the city's daily waste collection capacity from 5,200 metric tons to 9,000 metric tons under a new tender system.