Proposes Rs1 lakh prize for the police station collecting the maximum fines; also seeks help from NGOs.
If you go around frequently littering the city’s streets, then beware — the police might be keeping an eye on you.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in order to send a strong message to those who spread filth through the city, has decided to seek participation from the police to execute its ‘Swachha Mumbai Prabodhan Abhiyan,’ a cleanliness drive.
Moreover, to ensure that the police are encouraged to do a good job, the BMC has also planned to award a cash prize of Rs1 lakh to the police station registering the maximum cases of fines for littering. Similarly, the best beat chowky will be honoured with a cash reward of Rs25,000.
Civic officials said they will soon approach the city police to discuss the idea.
Confirming the plan, additional municipal commissioner Mohan Adtani said, “Each of us has the onus of cleaning the city. To achieve the goal, we plan to take help from the police.”
BMC’s first such move is intended at keeping slums as well as other areas free of litter. “Under the new scheme, both slums and non-slum areas will be covered. We will have NGOs appointed to do the job. The idea is to have members of the NGOs maintain cleanliness in cooperation with the policemen.”
While the BMC’s plan to honour police stations and chowkies is a new development, sections of the Bombay Police Act have already laid down littering in public places as an offence. Spreading filth is a banned activity and attracts punishment.
“However, it is observed that the police very rarely take action under these sections. These sections come into play especially when a special drive is undertaken,” said YP Singh, former police officer-turned-lawyer.
Ambadas Pote, spokesperson, Mumbai police, said the police department would respond after discussing the proposal with the civic body.
The BMC’s cleanliness programme was launched by Amitabh Bachchan on January 23, the birth anniversary of Shiv Sena supremo, late Bal Thackeray.
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