GBA launches ‘Clean City Challenge’ with ₹1 lakh reward Bengaluru’s North Zone

In a bid to make Bengaluru cleaner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has introduced a cleanliness competition offering cash rewards to the best-performing sanitation teams.

The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is stepping up its mission to make Bengaluru a “Clean City, Silicon City.” After implementing strict penalties for littering and even returning dumped garbage to offenders’ doorsteps, the GBA has now introduced a unique idea, a cleanliness competition to inspire better results on the ground.

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To drive this initiative, North Zone GBA Commissioner Pommala Sunil Kumar has launched a large-scale “Swachhata Competition” across major areas like Hebbal, Pulakeshinagar, Sarvagnanagar, Yelahanka, Byatarayanapura, Dasarahalli, and Rajarajeshwari Nagar. The competition will run from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, aiming to make 93.9 km of city roads spotless.

The campaign includes removing solid waste, trimming tree branches, and cleaning stormwater drains. Departments like the Solid Waste Management Wing, Engineering Department, and several NGOs will actively participate. The focus is not just on sweeping but on comprehensive cleaning and waste clearance.

To recognise their efforts, GBA will reward pourakarmikas (sanitation workers) and wards that perform exceptionally well. The first prize carries a cash reward of ₹1 lakh, followed by ₹50,000 for the second place and ₹25,000 for the third.

However, this initiative has also raised questions. While the intent to make Bengaluru clean is commendable, critics argue that keeping the city clean is already the primary duty of pourakarmikas.

Despite the debate, the civic body insists that the competition is meant to motivate and recognise hard work while encouraging community participation in maintaining a cleaner Bengaluru.