In a bold standoff over Bengaluru’s escalating garbage crisis, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar fired back at BJP MLAs Wednesday, branding their tactics as blatant blackmail. The fiery Congress leader revealed how opposition legislators are stonewalling waste disposal at allocated yards, holding the city’s hygiene hostage for political gains like extra development allocations.
Addressing the media, Shivakumar drew a clear line: ‘Cleanliness and public health aren’t bargaining chips for politics.’ He detailed instances where MLAs veto dumping in their patches, even bar vehicles from entering, and leverage it for favors.
Escalating the rhetoric, he quipped that defiant leaders could find trash piled at their doorsteps or BJP offices if obstructions persist. Recent agitators include Aravind Limbavali and Dheeraj Muniraju from Doddaballapur, who rallied against dumps.
‘We can’t halt essential services,’ Shivakumar said, hinting at invoking stringent laws. The administration sticks to time-tested protocols for waste handling, with new sites acquired and tenders floated compliantly.
On accidents linked to operations, he promised probes and fixes but refused to let mishaps paralyze collections. Trucks resume routes tomorrow to Somashekar and Byre Gowda’s zones. Amid legal snags under resolution, the government vows resilience against arm-twisting, prioritizing Bengaluru’s sanitation lifeline.