Karnataka Dy CM Shivakumar Alleges MLAs 'Blackmailing' Govt Over Bengaluru's Garbage Crisis

He was responding to the questions of MLC M Nagaraju on the garbage issue in the city, who highlighted the issue of garbage transport vehicles being stranded due to a lack of disposal facilities.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar accused on Friday that MLAs from various political parties are "blackmailing" the government over the garbage crisis in Bengaluru.

Speaking in the Legislative Council, he alleged that these MLAs are demanding Rs 800 crore in development while referring to them as "blackmailers." Shivakumar also claimed that a "big mafia" was controlling the city's solid waste management system.

He was responding to the questions of MLC M Nagaraju on the garbage issue in the city, who highlighted the issue of garbage transport vehicles being stranded due to a lack of disposal facilities and raised concerns about waste piling up across the city, according to a report by news agency PTI.

Addressing the Council, Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, said, “I have seen reports about the garbage problem in the media. There is a big mafia. The garbage contractors have formed a cartel and quoted prices 85 per cent higher than the standard rates. Now, they have approached the court preventing us from taking action."

He added that legal obstacles were slowing down government efforts to improve solid waste management. The government had planned to divide the city’s waste disposal work into four segments and transport garbage 50 km away, but the initiative had stalled.

“Our Bengaluru MLAs are blackmailing us. I don’t want to name them. I am telling you the fact. They are from all the parties. They want Rs 800 crore as development funds. I cannot take their names here,” he added. He also said to the Council that vehicles were stranded in Mahadevapura in the city for the past three days.

Shivakumar Emphasises Need For Transport Bengaluru’s Waste

D K Shivakumar emphasised the need to transport Bengaluru’s waste at least 50 km away from the city and urged MLAs to assist the BBMP in identifying 100 acres of land for disposal in areas like Kolar, Nelamangala, Kanakapura Road, or near forested land.

“I (government) will purchase it (land) and get a permanent solution. I asked the Industries Minister for 100 acres of land, to which he wondered whether garbage be dumped inside industries?” Shivakumar questioned.

The Deputy CM mentioned that the experiment to generate power has failed. “I had been to Hyderabad and Chennai. All electric (units) have failed. The only option is gas. There is a chance to generate gas. I had seen it at three to four places,” he opined.

He revealed that two sites had been identified for waste disposal—one under the jurisdiction of Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) Road authorities and another in Doddaballapura.

According to him, modern technology can effectively manage waste disposal without causing environmental harm or contaminating groundwater through leachate.

Reflecting on past failures, Shivakumar admitted that successive governments had not approached the issue from a humanitarian perspective. “What was done in the past was not done from the human perspective. Siddaramaiah and even the BJP had made promises but ultimately we have failed. We have to make a respectful arrangement for garbage disposal,” he noted.

He assured the House that he would provide a comprehensive response on the matter on Monday.