BENGALURU: Bengaluru’s construction boom is driving rapid development, but it also comes with the downside of improper disposal of construction debris. The city is grappling with the challenge of managing this waste, which often remains uncleared.
In response, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has issued a directive stating that if debris is generated after the completion of a project and is not properly cleared, the BBMP will handle its removal and deduct 150% of the cost from the final bills. BBMP Commissioner Tushar Girinath has outlined this new policy in an order.
According to the order, contractors must clear debris from ongoing projects and ensure compliance through regular monitoring by officials.
Contractors are also required to prevent debris generation after project completion.
The Commissioner emphasised that these instructions are to be implemented immediately and strictly followed by all zonal commissioners, joint commissioners, chief engineers, executive engineers, assistant executive engineers, and assistant engineers. Jurisdictional executive engineers and assistant executive engineers have been appointed as nodal officers to oversee the implementation of this order.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has released new guidelines. “The BBMP has notified its Solid Waste Management (SWM) Bye-Laws accordingly. Section 15 (2) of BBMP SWM Bye-Laws 2020 strictly prohibits solid waste disposal by burning at any premises, roadsides, or any private or public property, including vacant sites, and states that violators will face penalties. Any person is prohibited from throwing, depositing, or causing to be thrown or deposited any solid waste in public places, including water bodies. Section-29 {1(a & b)} prohibits dumping solid waste on vacant plots and construction and demolition (C & D) waste in non-designated locations.
It empowers the BBMP to serve notices to waste generators or occupiers of premises and enter the premises to clear the waste if the person served with the notice fails to do so. The BBMP can recover the expenditure incurred and impose penalties up to Rs.50,000/- for dumping solid waste or C & D waste.” said a BBMP official.
BBMP officials said that under the powers granted under the SWM Rules-2016, SWM Bye-Laws 2020, and the BBMP Act 2020, the BBMP has issued the following directives. Zonal offices are required to identify all vacant sites, plots, and public places where solid waste, construction and demolition (C&D) waste or other unsanitary conditions are present, including areas overgrown with harmful vegetation or trees that pose a health risk or are offensive to the community. Penalties will be imposed according to the specific violations outlined in Schedule VII of the SWM Bye-Laws.
Penalty and cleanup costs will be collected as part of property tax, with a separate entry on the receipt. If the payment is not made, interest will be charged–Official
A notice will be issued, giving the responsible person, owner, or occupier seven days to clear the site. If they fail to comply, the BBMP will take action to clear the area and will issue a PT recovery notice. This notice will detail the penalty and the costs incurred for the cleanup and the fine for not complying with the initial notice. The recipient will have another seven days to make the payment.“The penalty and cleanup costs will be recorded and collected as part of the property tax, with a separate entry on the receipt. If the payment is not made within the specified period, interest will be charged as determined by the Zonal Commissioners”, added an official.
