Bengaluru’s waste management woes took a political turn on Wednesday as Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar unleashed a scathing attack on BJP legislators. Speaking to reporters in the city, Shivakumar accused certain BJP MLAs of obstructing designated garbage dumping sites in their constituencies, using the issue to blackmail the government for development funds and other perks.
‘Politics has no place in matters of cleanliness and public health,’ Shivakumar asserted firmly. He highlighted how some MLAs are blocking waste collection vehicles, demanding that no garbage be dumped in their areas. This disruption, he warned, threatens the city’s sanitation infrastructure.
Shivakumar didn’t mince words, stating that if any public representative impedes garbage trucks, the government might resort to dumping waste right outside the homes or party offices of those leaders. He specifically named BJP leader Aravind Limbavali and Doddaballapur MLA Dheeraj Muniraju for opposing dumping operations recently.
The Deputy CM emphasized that waste has to go somewhere, and the government is following established procedures. ‘Garbage management is an essential civic service. We’ll invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act if needed,’ he declared.
Acknowledging past mishaps, Shivakumar assured accountability for any negligence causing accidents. However, he stressed that halting trucks isn’t a solution. Starting tomorrow morning, garbage trucks will head to dumping sites in the areas of MLA ST Somashekar and Minister Krishna Byre Gowda.
The government has procured two sites for dumping and issued tenders per regulations. Legal hurdles exist but are being resolved. Shivakumar reiterated the commitment to uninterrupted essential services amid mounting pressures.