Dump garbage, pay up hefty fines: BBMP special commissioner

Bengaluru: Dump garbage indiscriminately and be ready to cough up penalties ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 1 lakh. This strongly worded message from the BBMP is no empty threat, as the Palike is following it up with action. The Palike has imposed hefty fines on bulk waste generators who have not dumped waste scientifically and locked down some businesses.

Those dumping garbage indiscriminately in public places, whether they are individuals or bulk generators, will be dealt with an iron hand, warned Mr Subodh Yadav, BBMP special commissioner, Solid Waste Management (SWM), on Wednesday.

After inspecting some of the bulk garbage generators, Mr Yadav slapped penalties amounting to Rs 1.5 lakh against a few commercial establishments in the Gandhinagar ward.

Mr Yadav said that every bulk generator is expected to send garbage to the empanelled or designated garbage collector, while hospitals are expected to manage their own bio-medical waste. Those violating the norms will be punished severely, he said.

“Local health authorities have been authorised to penalise indiscriminate dumpers. Penalties will be levied depending on the amount of garbage generated. The BBMP is also auditing door-to-door garbage collection and If the contractor or pourakarmikas are found guilty of not following the municipal solid waste rules, they will also face action,” he said.

“During the inspection, it was noticed that some of the bulk generators had dumped their waste unscientifically on the roadside, causing a health hazard. They were fined Rs 85,000. Besides, Raghavendra Condiments and Karnataka Biriyani Point have been locked up as they failed to maintain hygiene,” BBMP sources said. Many dhabas, boarding and lodging units, travel agencies, condiment stores, hotels and tea stalls have been penalised for indiscriminate dumping of waste on the roadside.