While the clean-up marshals who were recruited to bring discipline in Mumbaikars regarding cleanliness go off the streets, the BMC has failed to come up with an alternative plan to replace them.
Wayward Mumbaikars who spit and litter wherever they want would be a happy lot again. Saturday onwards, the 600 odd clean-up marshals will not be present on the streets to keep a watch on errant citizens who litter the city.
While the clean-up marshals who were recruited to bring discipline in Mumbaikars regarding cleanliness go off the streets, the BMC has failed to come up with an alternative plan to replace them.
Ajay Govale, the third party auditor for the civic body’s clean-up Mumbai campaign, said: “From Saturday, the marshals will not be there on the streets to fine people for littering the city. While the BMC is still pondering on what should be the alternative to the clean-up marshals, as a third party auditor, we are conducting a study with multiple stakeholders to ask whether the clean-up campaign should be scrapped or we need to make changes in it.”
After the clean-up Mumbai campaign contract got over in November 2010, the civic standing committee asked BMC to come out with an alternative to clean-up marshals. The civic administration agreed to scarp the three-year-old clean-up Mumbai campaign and agreed to work on another scheme by December 31. In the meantime, the clean-up marshals were given a month’s extension.
“The administration has not come out with any alternative and is thinking of persuading corporators to continue. There are plans to curtail the powers of marshals and bring down the highest fining amount from Rs20,000 to Rs5,000. The plan is with the municipal commissioner for approval,” said a senior civic official.
Launched in 2007, the clean-up drive had marshals from five private agencies visiting various spots and locations in the city and fining people for littering or dirtying public places. Months after the launch of the campaign, corporators and various sections of the society started complaining about the marshals alleging that they extorted money from people in the name of fining.
BP Patil, chief engineer, solid waste management, said, “We are expecting the municipal commissioner to decide on the issue. The file on whether to have clean-up marshals or what should be done next, once approved by the commissioner, will then be sent to standing committee for approval.”
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