Bengaluru is one of the few cities in India whose civic agency has a dedicated department for waste management. Despite this “organised” approach, burning of garbage is rampant in the city, especially in Whitefield, KR Puram, Bellandur, RR Nagar and Jayamahal. Most incidents happen at night and at the hands of illegal contractors.

Besides the mess it creates, the fumes that emanate from such reckless burning are toxic and cause serious respiratory ailments like asthma. Garbage burning is also a leading cause of air pollution. It doesn’t help that in the past few years with rapid urbanisation, increase in the number of vehicles and construction activities, Bangalore’s air quality has dipped severely affecting the health of residents.

Two years ago, Jhatkaa.org started a campaign to end this menace and after mobilising thousands of citizens, got Sarfaraz Khan to issue a notification against open burning of garbage. However, penalties and fines are not being enforced and the practice continues. The National Green Tribunal and Karnataka Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) have also prohibited garbage burning, with fines up to Rs 25,000.

We’re tired of the BBMP's indifference in curbing this problem, and cannot afford to have citizens falling prey to burning-induced health conditions. We want to be Garden City, not Garbage City.

SIGN THIS PETITION and join this campaign to tell the BBMP to hold offenders accountable and strictly enforce penalties for garbage burning in Bangalore.

This campaign is being hosted by The News Minute in association with Jhatkaa.org.