Clean Bengaluru Campaign fails to evoke response

A week-long campaign to clean and beautify the city failed to evoke a response from the people and citizen groups.

'Clean Bengaluru Campaign' was launched on February 24 as a part of the "Swachh Survekshan."

The BBMP was hoping to rope in citizens and citizen groups to take part in the cleanliness drive.

Nearly 1,000 km of roads in across the eight zones were identified. "City beautification is an important protocol in the Swachh Survekshan survey to get a five-star rating. But the BBMP didn't give many corporations to the citizens who were involved in the initiative," said a solid waste management expert.

The protocol for the star ratings in Swachh Survekshan survey includes high quality and adequate street furniture, wall paintings, landscaping of parks beneath flyovers, the creation of green spaces around the city, and incorporation of local art, cultural and heritage elements, wherever possible.

"But the civic authorities have only undertaken beautification work in some places and did not follow actual protocol. Most of the blackspots identified earlier is not completed," he added.

Only a few Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), private companies and The Ugly Indian group took part by beautifying roads and compound walls.

Some resident groups were unaware of the campaign and could not participate.

A RWA member from Koramangala said, "We were clueless about the clean city campaign. As far as I know, no one from our RWA participated in the campaign."