The solid waste management system in Bengaluru has been soiled by corruption, turning out to be dirtier than the garbage it was meant to clean. Using more than 5,000 non-existent Pourakarmikas (city sweepers), contractors have been allegedly siphoning off money from the city administration, a recent audit has revealed.

In the initial information provided to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), the Department of Urban Development (UDD) has said that this malpractice has resulted in the contractors appropriating Rs 550 crore of taxpayers’ money. The ACB is expected to file an FIR and begin the probe into the case soon.

Even though a recommendation for a probe has been made, political pressure is likely to weaken the proposal to crackdown on the contractors.