The reason — BMC has neither renewed the contract nor floated the tender for a new one
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) clean-up marshals, who keep a check on the city's residents for littering in public places, may not be seen on city's roads from mid-July. The reason —the contract will cease in the first week of July and the civic body has not taken any steps to renew or hire a new contractor.
According to an official from the Solid Waste Management (SWM) department, they have just started the process to float a tender for deputing marshals across the city. However, the process is likely to take at least a month's time, and by then the current contract will be over. "The concept of clean-up marshals will continue in the years to come," said an official from SWM. However, he had no specific reason for the delay in floating the new tender.
There are around 753 clean-up marshals and according to civic officials, around Rs 9 crore was collected by them. However, the clean-up marshals have been blamed for extorting money from offenders in the past. As per the rules, clean-up marshals fine Rs 200 if a person is found littering. Of the entire amount collected, 50 per cent goes to the civic body while the other half goes to the agency which recruits these marshals.
Since its inception, the scheme has been surrounded by various controversies. The clean-up marshals were supposed to be deputed across 24 wards. But, the B-ward of BMC did not get any marshals. In addition, clean-up marshals have also been found spitting and targeting innocent people by extorting more money.
A senior official from SWM said that they have already started the process and plan to wrap it up in a month's time.
...& ANALYSIS
- The absence of clean-up marshals will prove to be a setback for the BMC since it has failed to renew the contract in time
- It is a serious concern as the city's ranking plummeted to 29 from 10 in the country's cleanliness survey. The delay shows the lack of seriousness of the civic body towards keeping the city clean.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Clean-up marshals")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}