The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has extended the deadline for owners of vacant sites to clean up accumulated debris and overgrown weeds on their properties from August 15 to August 22, following requests for additional time.

The GBA, in coordination with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Bescom, KRIDE, BMRCL, and KIADB, has intensified its Freedom from Waste campaign to clear illegally dumped debris, overgrown vegetation, and other waste from public spaces across the city.

As part of the campaign, 100 trucks and 25 excavators have been deployed, resulting in the removal of more than 30,000 tonnes of debris and overgrown vegetation so far.

The authority has also urged owners of vacant sites again to clean their properties, reiterating that if they fail to do so, the GBA will undertake the work and recover the cost from the property owners.

The GBA said the charges for such work are based on the government’s Schedule of Rates and are calculated based on the size of the plot, quantity of debris, transportation, and other work involved. Responding to concerns that the charges could be high, the authority said property owners could avoid the costs by cleaning their sites themselves or engaging private contractors.

The campaign comes alongside ongoing efforts to clear footpaths and remove abandoned vehicles from public spaces. The GBA said cleaning public spaces was the responsibility of government agencies, while maintaining private properties was the responsibility of owners, and stressed that sustained improvement in the city would require the participation of citizens.