Officials state that when compactors used for transporting waste broke down, auto tippers linked to them were often unable to function, resulting in garbage remaining uncleared on the streets.
| Photo Credit: File photo
Contractors responsible for garbage collection in Bengaluru are not deploying 200-300 auto tippers every day, while civic agencies lack backup arrangements when the contractor system breaks down, the Karnataka Lokayukta has found during its ongoing inquiry into waste management in the city. The Lokayukta was also informed that waste collection contracts awarded in 2018-19 continue to be extended and that no fresh tenders have been called since then. The contractors were not deploying all vehicles assigned for waste collection, resulting in hundreds of auto tippers remaining off the roads on a daily basis. The findings came up during a meeting convened by the Lokayukta on Wednesday with City Corporations Commissioners and senior officials of Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) to review the city’s solid waste management system. The inquiry was initiated following repeated complaints regarding inadequate waste disposal in different parts of Bengaluru. Over the past several months, the Lokayukta has been seeking responses from municipal corporations and BSWML on the steps taken to address the issue. Three teams led by Superintendents of Police attached to the Lokayukta were also constituted to inspect different parts of the city and submit reports. Even recently, the Lokayukta visited several localities in R.T. Nagar based on a public complaints.Although officials said notices had been issued and penalties imposed on contractors for failing to meet their obligations, the Lokayukta found that the penalty amounts had not been recovered. Officials defended this, saying that deductions had not been made because the contractors had not submitted maintenance bills. The Lokayukta directed authorities to recover the penalties and take appropriate action against the contractors. The review found that waste collection had slowed in some areas because of poor contractor performance. In some cases, attempts to appoint alternative contractors had failed as no bidders came forward. Officials also stated that when compactors used for transporting waste broke down, auto tippers linked to them were often unable to function, resulting in garbage remaining uncleared on the streets. The Lokayukta observed that both the municipal corporations and BSWML were entirely dependent on contractors for waste collection and had not created alternative arrangements to ensure continuity of services when contractor-operated vehicles were unavailable. As a result, the Lokayukta suggested that corporations procure their own vehicles and directly undertake waste collection in at least a few wards under each corporation instead of relying completely on contractors. He also suggested that corporation-owned vehicles be deployed whenever contractor vehicles are unavailable or under repair. Questioning the city’s dependence on private contractors, the Lokayukta noted that waste collection in several other cities and towns in Karnataka, as well as in urban local bodies in other States, is carried out by civic authorities using their own vehicles rather than through private contractors. The Lokayukta has asked the officials to appear before him on July 28 and submit an action-taken report. Published - June 10, 2026 10:05 pm IST
