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Flagging “unmanaged waste and recurring garbage black-spots” in the city and “persistent failure” of the authorities to effectively implement laws governing solid waste management (SWM), the High Court of Karnataka has directed the State government to develop a unified, technology-driven, and accountable SWM framework within a year in a phased manner.
To track movement
The court ordered a shift from the present manual, opaque operations to a data-driven, transparent urban governance integrating technology system that also enables citizens to track movement of garbage collection and transport vehicles on a live and real-time basis.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj issued a series of directions while dismissing the petitions filed by B.S. Kiran Kumar and several other proprietors of firms engaged in the collection and the transport of garbage in the city. The petitioners had challenged the legality of a fresh tender invited on July 30, 2025, by making manifold changes to the earlier tenders for garbage collection and disposal.
“Mere contractual arrangements for the collection and disposal of waste are insufficient. In an era where technology offers unprecedented tools for transparency and accountability, the continued reliance on archaic, non-transparent methods is no longer tenable. The integration of technology with robust administrative will and citizen participation can lead to transformative outcomes, in transforming the city’s SWM system,” the court said.
The court directed the Chief Commissioner of the Greater Bangalore Authority (GBA), along with each city corporations coming under the GBA, and the e-Governance Department, to start design, development, and implementation of a single, unified, and integrated digital platform for SWM with the principle ‘one city, one platform’ for all SWM-related interactions. This is to ensure a seamless and coherent experience for citizens, operators, and administrators alike. The platform should include digital dashboard, mobile application, Global Position System (GPS)-based tracking, weighbridge integration, and CCTV camera surveillance etc.,” the court said.
Oversight committee
Directing the State Chief Secretary to constitute a nodal oversight and implementation committee for SWM surveillance within 15 days, the court said the committee, comprising various wings of the Government, would be the single-point authority responsible for the comprehensive planning, procurement, installation, and operational oversight of the entire integrated SWM technology project as mandated in this order.
Ordering incorporation of a series of facilities in the digital platform, the court said it should also contain a city-wide live view facility, a comprehensive, Geographic Information System (GIS)- based map providing a ‘single pane of glass’ view of the entire SWM operation, displaying the real-time location and status of all SWM assets (vehicles, transfer stations, processing plants), and a powerful analytics module allowing officials to monitor key performance indicators from the city level down to the zone, ward, and individual vehicle level.
The court directed the committee, based on these directions, to prepare a detailed project report and submit it to the court within six weeks stating that the court would review progress made in project implementation every four months.
HC gives go ahead for new garbage tender
The High Court of Karnataka has given a green signal to the State government to go ahead with the tender invited on July 30, 2025, for SWM by dismissing the petitions filed by several contractors challenging certain terms of tender.
Justice Suraj Govindaraj, in his order, said that change of the tender from ward-wise to multiple wards cannot be said to be arbitrary or unreasonable given the circumstances which have been taken into account by the tender issuing authority.
The court also said that the change in the financial/technical requirement will not come in the way of the petitioners coming together to submit their bid as a consortium while refusing to accept their contention that tender called for multiple wards would only favour large contractors. However, the court directed the government to extend till November 10 date for submission of bids to enable the petitioner to participate.
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