Bengaluru civic body fines PVR INOX ₹75,000, Forum Mall ₹50,839 over waste violations
The Bengaluru South City Corporation has fined two commercial establishments in the city a total of ₹1.25 lakh for violations of solid waste management norms and for using banned single-use plastics, the civic body said in a press statement.
Officials inspecting PVR Cinemas (PVR INOX Limited) in Lakkasandra on Hosur Main Road found that wet and dry waste were not being segregated at source and that banned single-use plastic items were in use. The corporation imposed a penalty of ₹75,000 on the establishment — ₹50,000 for mixing non-segregated waste and ₹25,000 for using banned single-use plastics. The amount was collected on the spot.
In a separate case, corporation officials found sewage treatment plant (STP) waste dumped illegally near Shop Well Supermarket in Jayanagar Housing Society Layout, Uttarahalli, on Kanakapura Main Road. Acting on information from local residents, officials traced the waste to Forum Mall. The corporation said mall staff admitted that the waste had originated from the establishment, after which a fine of ₹50,839 was imposed and recovered.
South City Corporation Commissioner K.N. Ramesh directed the establishments to ensure segregation of wet and dry waste at source and scientific disposal of waste. He also warned commercial establishments, including malls, cinema theatres and hotels, of stringent action for violating Solid Waste Management rules.
What the rules require
Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, every waste generator must segregate waste at source into wet, dry and hazardous streams, and hand over segregated waste only to authorised collectors. Bulk generators such as large hotels, malls and cinema halls are additionally expected to manage their waste scientifically, including by processing biodegradable waste on their premises where feasible or tying up with authorised processors. Mixing segregated waste is itself a violation, as is dumping waste on public land.
India prohibited the manufacture, sale, stocking, distribution and use of identified single-use plastic items from July 1, 2022. Karnataka had restricted several single-use plastic products earlier, in 2016. Enforcement of these restrictions rests with local bodies, which can levy penalties under the rules and state municipal laws.
Why bulk generators are under scrutiny
Malls, cinema halls and hotels generate large volumes of waste daily, and civic bodies have increasingly focused on them because segregation at source is the first step in any working waste management chain. When wet and dry waste are mixed, recyclable material is contaminated and the waste that reaches processing plants or landfills becomes harder to handle. Improperly disposed STP waste, meanwhile, can pollute soil and water if it is not treated in line with prescribed standards.
Bengaluru generates several thousand tonnes of municipal solid waste every day, and segregation at source has remained a persistent challenge for the civic administration, which relies on bulk generators to comply with the rules.
Officials indicated that the two cases were detected during routine inspections and follow-up on information from residents, pointing to the role public reporting plays in enforcement.
The corporation's statement did not say whether the two establishments had commented on the penalties, nor did it specify any timeline for further action.
The details in this report are based on the corporation's press statement.
