Greater Bengaluru Authority imposes up to Rs 1 lakh fines for unclean vacant sites

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) announced that owners of vacant plots in Bengaluru must remove waste by 15 August 2026 or face fines of ₹25,000 for the first violation and ₹50,000‑₹1 lakh for subsequent breaches. The penalties are imposed under Clause 18 of the Solid Waste Management Bye‑laws 2020 and Section 285(2) of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act 2024. If owners do not comply, the relevant city corporation will clear the sites and recover the cost, added to the property tax, with non‑payment pursued under the Karnataka Land Revenue Act 1964.

The GBA will launch a “Freedom from Waste” campaign in August 2026, mobilising all five city corporations and civic agencies to clear black spots, construction‑demolition waste, debris and other litter from city roads. Residents can report violators by sending photos and GPS coordinates to a GBA WhatsApp chatbot, with complainants’ identities kept confidential. Resident Welfare Associations welcomed the move, saying it should curb the ongoing garbage menace on empty sites.