Nearly 30,000 Mumbaikars paid over Rs 65 lakh fine in a month for spitting, littering

In the first month of its launch, the BMC's clean-up marshals scheme, fined nearly 30,000 Mumbaikars over Rs 65 lakh, reports The Times of India. The marshals have warned over 83,308 people. 

The scheme, which was launched on July 1 in certain wards, checked for littering and spitting apart from other offences at 737 high footfall places which include tourist spots and railway stations.

The highest amount of fine was collected at R-Central ward (areas such as Borivli, Dahisar), whereas  Rs. 9.73 lakh amount of fine was collected at K-east ward (Andheri and Jogeshwari, etc).

The citizens, if aggressive, can be taken to a police station. But usually the marshals do not  have to take that recourse. People were let off with a warning depending on the situation. In many cases, the person is unable to pay up. Sometimes, the marshals educate them about the importance of civic sense," said an BMC official from solid waste department said.

The scheme is yet to rolled out in other wards. 

Littering or spitting attracts Rs 200 fine and defecating in the open will make you pay Rs 100 as a fine.

Hawkers and vendors without a container for waste must pay Rs 500. Those who don't deliver specified hazardous waste segregated will have to pay Rs 1,000.