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Deccan Herald
25-05-2025
- Business
- Deccan Herald
One firm, five contracts in Bengaluru: Questions over Rs 2.2K crore waste deal
Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) has awarded all contracts related to the collection and transportation of the city's construction and demolition (C&D) waste to a single private firm, raising concerns about favouritism. .Chaitra Civil Ventures LLP was the sole bidder for three key tenders, despite the presence of multiple transport service providers in the city. It also secured two additional contracts for processing construction debris. .The five contracts — the government-owned company's first long-term agreements of this scale — are valued at a staggering Rs 2,227 crore over a 15-year period. This translates to Rs 148.5 crore annually. .While the initiative aims to reduce illegal dumping and keep the city's lakes, drains and public spaces clear of debris, citizen groups are sceptical. They argue that assigning the entire responsibility to a single agency is impractical given the volume of waste generated citywide. They also question the government's commitment to decentralised governance, noting the irony of centralising such a critical civic function. .A senior BSWML official said there is an element of risk involved in the project as the private agency is responsible for collecting the service fee from waste collection tenders to be called in 33 packages: D K this year, BSWML had floated five tenders related to C&D waste management. Three of these were for the collection and transportation of debris to existing processing plants in Kannur and Chikkajala. The other two covered end-to-end operations, including processing of debris. .Although some tenders attracted up to five bidders, BSWML disqualified most of them on technical grounds. End result? All the contracts were awarded to a single agency, triggering questions. .The senior BSWML official, however, justified the decision. "We had floated the tenders in the e-procurement portal. What can we do if the response is low." .Sources told DH that Chaitra Ventures initially quoted around 69% above the estimated cost. However, following negotiations, it revised down its bid to align closely with the BSWML's estimates. .A retired BBMP official suggested that the contracts should have been split between collection/transportation and processing, given their distinct technical requirements. "Around 70% of the cost pertains to transportation. If that portion had been tendered separately, more players would have likely participated, encouraging competitive pricing. This entire process is rigged," he alleged. .Five contracts three for collection, transportation of debris to existing processing plants 2 end-to-end operations, including processing of debris Value Rs 2,227 crore over 15 years Rs 148.5 crore annually ..We had floated the tenders in the e-procurement portal. What can we do if the response is low - a senior BSWML official.
The Wire
25-05-2025
- Climate
- The Wire
Bengaluru Rains Have Returned the Garbage We Carelessly Dumped
JCB machines dredge solid waste in Bengaluru. Photo: Ranjan, Saahas Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute Now Pre-monsoon showers shook Bengaluru overnight last week, with boats taking over waterlogged roads and garbage heaps peeping out of the Rajakaluves, the city's major stormwater drains. Bengalureans woke up to social media notifications of alarming videos of vehicles wading through submerged roads, flooded neighbourhoods, and passengers falling off their two-wheelers. This has become a recurring exhibit whenever the sky weeps over the city. It reminds Bengaluru of its flawed urban planning and crumbling infrastructure. This year, the morning scene was further enriched by JCBs dredging garbage that choked the Rajakaluves. Bengaluru has a historic waterway system that interlinks lakes and diverts excess rainwater towards tanks or lakes through channels called Rajakaluves. These massive stormwater drains were designed to regulate the water flow between the lakes during dry and wet seasons. However, recent developments have disregarded and encroached upon these channels by obstructing water flow or discharging domestic and industrial sewage. When the city expanded and the residents no longer relied on these water channels, they became neglected, obsolete gutters where the city's solid and liquid waste is indiscriminately discarded. Last week, BBMP contractors dredged heaps of solid waste from the clogged drain near the Silk Board junction. This unusual sight appalled many passengers stuck there due to the slow-moving traffic. One might wonder how this hidden waste suddenly popped out and almost immediately put the blame entirely on the BBMP/BSWML, the entities responsible for the city's waste management. However, multiple stakeholders are involved in the management and maintenance of Rajakaluves, including BBMP, BSWML, KSPCB, KSNMDC, BWSSB and the citizens of Bengaluru. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is the civic body tasked with the construction, maintenance, and remodelling of raja kaluves, as well as preventing and monitoring encroachments. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) handles sewage management, network expansion, and treatment plants, coordinating closely with BBMP. The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) is responsible for validating major drain plans, installing sensors to monitor rainfall, flooding, and choke points, and providing early warnings to the BBMP during heavy rainfall events. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) oversees regulatory compliance concerning water, air, and environmental laws, and monitors water quality in drains and lakes. Lastly, the Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) manages the city's solid waste, which includes preventing the dumping of waste and construction debris into Rajakaluves and their catchment areas. Bengaluru: Commuters wade through a waterlogged road after heavy rains, in Bengaluru, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Photo: PTI. Of course, there has been negligence on their part regarding the proper maintenance of these stormwater drains or any drains for that matter. Nevertheless, the city's residents are also partners in crime, and we are equally responsible for this crisis. Actions have consequences, as the saying goes: You reap what you sow. When you litter or covertly dump waste in public spaces – be it on the curbside, in vacant lots, inside drains, or near unfinished flyovers – it doesn't just vanish or evaporate into thin air. It comes back to haunt you when you least expect it, so there's no point in being shocked or blaming the administration. How often have we seen people constructing or renovating homes, with concrete and debris carelessly piled up on the roads next to their sites? A significant portion of this is left behind even after the completion of construction, with most ultimately accumulating in the stormwater drains. You sowed the seeds of wrongdoing, it is time to reap the consequences. Unfortunately, it manifests in its ugliest form, affecting the entire city. The solid waste management (SWM) issue in the city presents a classic chicken-or-egg dilemma. Residents attribute the problem to the inconsistency of the waste collection system, while the system blames the residents' lack of responsibility. The simple act of source-segregation can unlock the potential for resource recovery from solid waste. When that doesn't happen, the city's waste often ends up in inconspicuous landfills located near peripheral farmlands, if not in the more visible stormwater drains. People who dump their waste in public spaces often justify their actions by citing the irregularity of the waste collection system. However, this rationale is insufficient to legitimise the pollution of natural resources. Sometimes, people lack the patience to wait for another day if they miss the collection vehicle, and hence, they hastily dispose of their waste elsewhere, in their rush to remove the waste from their homes, even if it means polluting public spaces. Vehicles stuck in a traffic jam as roads got waterlogged due to heavy rains, in Bengaluru, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Photo: PTI. Segregated waste offers solutions even if you miss the collection vehicle or have limited access. Clean and segregated dry waste can be stored until collection because it neither stinks nor degrades. A big chunk of the sanitary waste can be reduced by switching to a sustainable alternative (cloth napkins, cloth pads, menstrual cups, reusable diapers, etc.). Meanwhile, the wet or biodegradable portion of the waste can be composted at any scale if you have the will. Even if you don't compost, segregating waste reduces the volume of the odorous fraction, allowing you to wait until the next collection day. Hence, the first step in taking responsibility for your waste is by segregating it. The operation of waste collection and transportation is financially intensive, even without considering the capital investment required for collection and processing systems. The SWM system of the city is currently grappling with a lack of accountability and insufficient infrastructure to cover the entire city. Consequently, it is unsurprising that waste collection in many areas is irregular and inadequate. However, instead of carelessly disposing of your waste, be responsible, ask questions and hold the SWM officials accountable. If the collection vehicle in your area is inconsistent or misses pickups, inform the Joint Health Inspector or supervisor responsible for monitoring the collection and urge them to take corrective action. Active citizens are essential for an accountable administration. Established protocols and authorised vendors exist for handling construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Citizens must connect the dots between their carelessly abandoned C&D waste and clogged drains. How often do we enquire the contractor hauling away our C&D waste in a tractor about the disposal location? This waste will likely be dumped in a lakebed or along the edges of a drain. Therefore, the next time you step out to dump your waste, think of the clogged stormwater drains and waterlogged roads that can complicate your life in the city during the monsoon. Archana Tripathi is the CEO of Saahas, a non-profit with 23 years of expertise in the solid waste management sector. Anjali V Raj works in the Knowledge Development and Dissemination vertical at Saahas.
Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Karnataka HC sets 4-month timeline to complete solid waste tender process in Bengaluru
The Karnataka High Court has set a four-month timeline for the completion of the solid waste tender issued in November 2024 by the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML). The order was passed on April 22 by a bench consisting of Justice M Nagaprasanna and was recently made available. In this case, a series of petitions had been filed by waste disposal contractors. A tender was originally issued for waste disposal in 2022 and upheld by the Karnataka High Court, after which the tender applications of several contractors were blacklisted or not accepted. The tender was then withdrawn before the stage of awarding, and a new one was issued in 2024. The contractors argued that the withdrawal of the tender was a mala fide action and was not done for the reasons of economic viability alone, as argued by the state government. They argued that the original 2022 tender should have been taken to the logical conclusion. Counsels representing some other contractors stated that they had no issue with the cancellation of the original tender, but claimed that they had been blacklisted on 'frivolous' grounds and should be allowed to participate in the new one. The Advocate General had also stated that except for those blacklisted for misconduct or fraud, all others could participate in the tender. The bench declined to interfere with the validity of the new tender, explaining, 'This Court in exercise of its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution would not sit in the armchair of experts to assess the price bids that had come about earlier or the reserve price. The only examination in the cases at hand was qua tenability of cancellation of tender. I find that cancellation of tender is based on sound reasoning and does not suffer from palpable or demonstrable arbitrariness.' The court directed that the petitioners could participate in the new tender, which would have to be completed in four months. It also stated that the contractors could approach the court if the timeline was breached, and the matter would be viewed seriously.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
After splitting BBMP, BSWML to independently handle waste in Bengaluru
After the formation of multiple corporations and the establishment of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to coordinate among them, the responsibility for door-to-door waste collection and the integrated solid waste management system in Bengaluru will be handled directly by the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML). The designated government company will oversee waste management operations across all corporations, much like how water and sewerage services are managed city-wide by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). Currently, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is in a transition phase. Until new boundaries for the corporations are officially finalised, no fresh tenders for waste management services will be floated, sources said. According to officials, several rounds of meetings with stakeholders and civic administrators are underway to deliberate on the number of corporations to be created. Sources indicate that authorities are considering dividing BBMP into anywhere between three and five corporations to streamline governance. In the meantime, sections of civil society are preparing to challenge the constitutional validity of the Greater Bengaluru Governance Act, 2024, in court, raising questions about the broader implications of the restructuring and formation of GBA. A senior BBMP official told The Hindu that the BSWML will independently handle critical functions such as door-to-door waste collection, transportation, and processing by engaging contractors and companies. Payments to these service providers will be directly handled by BSWML. However, the newly-formed corporations will remain responsible for the payment of salaries to poura karmikas who are employed under the direct payment system. Recently, BBMP introduced a user fee for waste collection, which is now bundled with property tax. After the corporations are formally established, the same system will continue, with user fee collection being transferred to a dedicated escrow account managed by BSWML. Presently, the estimated revenue from user fees stands at around ₹750 crore, a figure expected to increase as the GBA's jurisdiction will expand. Officials noted that this revenue will be crucial for funding payments to contractors and companies managing the city's waste management operations.
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
BBMP clears 930 garbage blackspots, over 600 more to go
BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) has managed to fix 930 garbage blackspots out of 1,533 from BBMP's eight zones. Ramamani, Chief Operating Officer (COO), BSWML said that starting April 21, they cleared 6,200 metric tonnes of waste from blackspots, and the stakeholders have also been asked to keep an eye on these spots to ensure they are not dirtied again. The BSWML officials along with contractors also engaged in removing Optical Fiber Cables (OFC) from street corners and from trees in some places as part of the drive, as the entangled cables are creating inconvenience to the public, walkers and motorists. On Saturday, the BBMP associated with the Bangalore Political Action Committee ( cleaned a long stretch from Domlur Flyover to Ejipura in Shanthinagar and fixed the garbage blackspot, similarly, the BSWML officials along with volunteers cleaned a street near St Aloysius College near Cox Town in CV Raman Nagar. Assistant General Manager of BSWML Ravi Kumar said, three compactors of waste including debris were cleared between Domlur Flyover to Ejipura. The cleaning activity will also be carried out on Sunday. Managing Trustee, CEO, Revathy Ashok lauded the BBMP's initiative and at the same time expressed concern over shortage of staff and night patrolling by BBMP marshals. 'In just one stretch, 80 pourakarmikas were deployed. There is a shortage of pourakarmikas in BBMP,' said Ashok. She also raised concerns of the absence of night patrolling which many believe is leading to illegal dumping of garbage, construction debris and others. 'There is a need for nighttime and early morning patrolling. During the marshal movement in the morning, people fear to dump waste on the roadside and in open places. The dumping happens post 10 pm at night at some places and early morning before 6 am. Such offenders should be caught and penalised,' she opined.
