CM D.K. Shivakumar Launches 'Freedom From Waste' Campaign: Build on Vacant Sites Within 5 Years or Face Double Tax
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar launched the month-long Freedom From Waste campaign near Hebbal Junction on Saturday, 1 August 2026, warning that owners of BDA and corporation sites must build within five years or face double tax or resumption, ordering police to seize vehicles dumping waste illegally, and inviting NGOs to adopt streets for cleanliness.
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar launched the Freedom From Waste (ತ್ಯಾಜ್ಯದಿಂದ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ) campaign near Hebbal Junction on Saturday, 1 August 2026 — the start of a month-long citywide drive to free Bengaluru's roads, footpaths and public spaces of waste.
Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, Energy and Tourism Minister K.J. George, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, MLA S.R. Vishwanath and GBA Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao were present at the launch, organised under Minister Krishna Byre Gowda's leadership.
Key Announcements by the Chief Minister
- Build within 5 years or lose the site: Owners of BDA, CITB, corporation or society sites must keep their properties clean and construct at least a basic house within five years — failing which they face double tax or resumption of the site, with the amounts paid refunded with interest. "Some people have not built for 20, 30, 40 years. Vacant sites become garbage dumps — we have no other option," the CM said.
- Waste-dumping vehicles to be seized: The CM issued strict orders to the police to seize any vehicle caught dumping construction waste outside designated spots, noting that earlier notices and camera surveillance worked only briefly.
- "Assault on officials is an assault on the government": Referring to the recent attack on officials during footpath clearance in Shivajinagar, the CM said the government "will not bow down to goondaism", and that the encroachment drive was launched after taking MLAs of all parties into confidence. Street vendors will be relocated to designated zones.
- NGOs invited to adopt streets: Non-governmental organisations were invited to take responsibility for specific areas or adopt four to five streets each to support the drive.
- Green Bengaluru announcement coming: A "historic announcement" on Green Bengaluru will be made on the 100th day of the programme.
"Bengaluru is your property", the CM told residents — "Cleaning Bengaluru is our duty, but protecting it is yours. The entire nation is watching Bengaluru; it is our shared duty to set an example for the rest of India." Quoting Mahatma Gandhi ("Cleanliness is Godliness") and Rajiv Gandhi, he urged citizens to keep the fronts of their own homes clean so that streets, towns and the nation become clean.
The official brief note on the campaign (English and Kannada) is attached below.
#FreedomFromWaste #JustCleanBengaluru
ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾರಾಂಶ
ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಡಿ.ಕೆ. ಶಿವಕುಮಾರ್ ಅವರು ಶನಿವಾರ (ಆಗಸ್ಟ್ 1) ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ಹೆಬ್ಬಾಳ ಜಂಕ್ಷನ್ ಬಳಿ 'ತ್ಯಾಜ್ಯದಿಂದ ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ' ಅಭಿಯಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಚಾಲನೆ ನೀಡಿದರು. ಬಿಡಿಎ ಅಥವಾ ಯಾವುದೇ ಕಾರ್ಪೊರೇಷನ್ ನಿವೇಶನಗಳ ಮಾಲೀಕರು ಸ್ವಚ್ಛತೆ ಕಾಪಾಡಬೇಕು ಮತ್ತು ಐದು ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮನೆ ಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಳ್ಳಬೇಕು; ತಪ್ಪಿದಲ್ಲಿ ದುಪ್ಪಟ್ಟು ತೆರಿಗೆ ಕಟ್ಟಬೇಕು, ಇಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ ನಿವೇಶನ ಹಿಂಪಡೆಯುವ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಮಾಡಲಾಗುವುದು ಎಂದು ಎಚ್ಚರಿಸಿದರು. ಎಲ್ಲೆಂದರಲ್ಲಿ ತ್ಯಾಜ್ಯ ಸುರಿಯುವ ವಾಹನಗಳನ್ನು ಮುಟ್ಟುಗೋಲು ಹಾಕಿಕೊಳ್ಳುವಂತೆ ಪೊಲೀಸರಿಗೆ ಕಟ್ಟಪ್ಪಣೆ ನೀಡಿದರು. ಸ್ವಚ್ಛತಾ ಅಭಿಯಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೈಜೋಡಿಸಲು ಸ್ವಯಂ ಸೇವಾ ಸಂಘಗಳಿಗೆ ಆಹ್ವಾನ ನೀಡಿದ ಅವರು, ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ನೂರನೇ ದಿನದಂದು ಹಸಿರು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಕುರಿತು ಐತಿಹಾಸಿಕ ಘೋಷಣೆ ಮಾಡುವುದಾಗಿ ತಿಳಿಸಿದರು. ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳ ಮೇಲಿನ ಹಲ್ಲೆ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಮೇಲೆ ಮಾಡಿರುವ ಹಲ್ಲೆ; ಗೂಂಡಾಗಿರಿಗೆ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಹೆದರುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದರು. ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸಚಿವೆ ಶೋಭಾ ಕರಂದ್ಲಾಜೆ, ಸಚಿವರಾದ ಕೆ.ಜೆ. ಜಾರ್ಜ್, ಕೃಷ್ಣ ಬೈರೇಗೌಡ, ಶಾಸಕ ಎಸ್.ಆರ್. ವಿಶ್ವನಾಥ್ ಹಾಗೂ ಜಿಬಿಎ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಆಯುಕ್ತ ಮಹೇಶ್ವರ ರಾವ್ ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು.
