Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has directed civic officials to address garbage accumulation, construction debris, potholes, footpath encroachments and stormwater drain maintenance after conducting an early-morning surprise inspection across several parts of the city on Saturday. He also warned that pourakarmikas who remain absent from duty for prolonged periods could face dismissal.
The inspection covered Horamavu, Banjara Layout, Agara Lake, Ramamurthy Nagar and Kasturinagar. Gowda reviewed door-to-door garbage collection, lake and drain maintenance, footpaths, potholes, and ongoing railway and metro works during the visit, according to a report by Deccan Herald.
The minister directed officials to ensure that waste is collected daily and that construction debris is cleared from public areas. He also ordered action to remove footpath encroachments and instructed officials to repair potholes and road cuts. Regular desilting of stormwater drains was among the other directions issued during the inspection.
At Agara Lake, Gowda ordered the immediate removal of accumulated waste and action against encroachments. He also directed officials to relocate Bescom transformers located outside the lake premises. The instructions covered both the lake’s immediate maintenance and the placement of electrical infrastructure within its surroundings.
The inspection also brought the issue of attendance among pourakarmikas into focus. Responding to workers seeking regularisation, Gowda said that around 30% of pourakarmikas were not reporting for duty. “How can we make those who don’t come to work permanent?” he asked, while stressing that regularisation could not come at the cost of accountability.
Gowda warned that pourakarmikas who remain absent for prolonged periods could face dismissal from service. The report did not specify the number of workers covered by the warning, the duration that would constitute prolonged absence, or a timeline for any disciplinary action.
The directions came as the minister reviewed several routine civic functions across neighbourhoods that include residential areas, a lake, roads, drains and locations affected by railway and metro works. The inspection also linked waste collection and maintenance concerns with broader issues involving public infrastructure and encroachments.
Officials were directed to follow up on the waste removal at Agara Lake, the relocation of Bescom transformers, road and footpath repairs, debris clearance and stormwater drain desilting. The minister’s warning on absenteeism establishes accountability as a condition in the ongoing discussion around regularisation of pourakarmikas.
