Bengaluru: Wave of resignations hits BBMP marshals over unpaid salaries

A mass exodus of marshals from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is underway as delayed salary payments continue to plague the civic body. Around 40 marshals have already resigned, including those stationed at critical locations such as Bellandur and Varthur Lakes. Several more are reportedly considering quitting amid uncertainty over pending dues.

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The crisis has deepened with revelations that ward-level marshals have not received their salaries for over five months. The situation is especially dire in Bengaluru South, where staff morale is low, and efforts are being made to prevent further resignations.

Currently, only 220 marshals out of the sanctioned 261 remain on duty, significantly impacting waste management enforcement. At Bellandur and Varthur Lakes, the workforce has thinned drastically — from a combined deployment of 36 marshals to just seven per lake, leaving large areas unmonitored.

Marshals, primarily ex-servicemen, play a vital role in curbing garbage dumping and enforcing waste segregation. During the pandemic, they were tasked with mask enforcement and penalty collection. The ongoing salary delay has pushed some to discourage others from applying for these roles, citing job insecurity.

While BBMP claims its responsibility for salaries ended in December 2024, pending dues from November and December remain unresolved. The Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited has taken over salary obligations from January 2025, but no clarity has emerged on disbursing arrears, worsening the staffing crisis.