India
Shivakumar Calls for MLA Cooperation to Combat ‘Garbage Mafia’ as BSWML Re‑tenders 16 Packages
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar met with members of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Council at his official residence, Krishna, on Tuesday to seek cooperation from MLAs and MLCs in Bengaluru. He described the city’s waste system as a “garbage mafia” and urged legislators to help break it. The meeting also covered the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited’s (BSWML) re‑tendering of 16 of 21 waste‑management packages.
Opposition Leader R. Ashok, who recently alleged irregularities in garbage‑management tenders, did not attend the session. Ashok has accused the government of favouring an ineligible company and called for a high‑level probe. He pointed out that one of the ₹133‑crore tenders floated by the GBA was awarded to a private firm that did not meet eligibility criteria.
During the meeting, Mr. Shivakumar briefed participants on BSWML’s plan to restructure waste management by awarding 33 contracts for waste collection across 27 assembly constituencies. The objective is to increase the city’s waste‑collection capacity and ensure seamless transportation. The new tenders will cover up to 9,000 tonnes of waste, require GPS tracking for all collection vehicles, and allow only new vehicles under the contracts.
BSWML officials said only five contractors accepted the tenders. Chief Executive Officer Karee Gowda told The Hindu that the remaining contractors demanded a nearly 30% premium on the actual contract value, while the Cabinet had approved a 14% premium. The contracts are worth ₹584 crore annually, and contractors want to scale up by another ₹180 crore, leading many to refuse the Letter of Acceptance.
The state government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (Esma) for waste management. Mr. Shivakumar urged the opposition to support the initiative for the city’s benefit.
Shivakumar also mentioned a 10‑year development plan for Bengaluru, estimated to cost about ₹1 lakh crore, to mark the city’s 500th anniversary in 2037. He said the government is working on changing the alignment of the North‑South Tunnel, a point of contention after citizens raised concerns about its impact on Lalbagh.
Published – October 27, 2026 10:14 pm IST