Owners of all empty plots in the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) area have to get their plots cleaned of garbage and debris by August 15, failing which they can face a penalty of up to ₹1 lakh. 

“If the owners fail to clean their vacant sites by 15 August, 2026, the City Corporation concerned shall remove the waste/debris and recover the cost from the property owner along with this year’s property tax. The recovery shall be based on the extent of the site and the quantity of waste removed,” GBA Chief Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao said on Tuesday. 

“Further, under the Solid Waste Management Bye-laws, 2020, a penalty of ₹25,000 shall be imposed for the first violation, and ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh for subsequent violations,” he further said. 

The GBA had asked empty plot owners to clean up their sites on July 15 and set a deadline of August 15, giving one month’s time. 

This comes in the backdrop of the “Freedom from Waste” special drive starting August 1 after the “Safe Footpath” drive launched on July 1. 

The GBA has appealed to the public to report such sites with geo-tagged photographs to the WhatsApp Chatbot number +91 94481 97197. The identity of the complainant will be kept confidential, GBA said. 

The GBA has also advised plot owners to construct a fence or compound wall around their cleaned vacant sites to prevent unauthorised dumping of waste in the future.