Mumbaikars fined Rs 65L in a month for spitting, littering

MUMBAI: Almost 30,000 Mumbaikars have been fined over Rs 65 lakh in the first month of the BMC launching its clean-up marshals scheme. More than 83,308 got away with a warning from the marshals.
The marshals have been patrolling several wards since July 1; 737 high footfall areas like tourist spots and railway stations had been identified by the civic body where the marshals have to watch out for anyone littering and spitting, apart from committing other civic offences.
The highest amount of fines of Rs 11.32 lakh has been collected from citizens in R-central ward, which includes areas like Borivli and Dahisar, followed by K-east ward, which includes Andheri and Jogeshwari, where the fines collected were Rs. 9.73 lakh. The marshals can take citizens to the nearest police station in case they get into an argument and behave aggressively. “A case can be registered under Section 268 (public nuisance) of the Indian Penal Code. However, citizens do not prefer taking the issue to such an extent,” said an official.
“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 official from BMC’s solid waste department.
The scheme has not rolled out full-fledged in several wards as police verification of the marshals is yet to be completed, civic officials explained. The verification has delayed the roll-out of the scheme as the BMC initially planned to begin the scheme in June, before the monsoons.
As many as 24,005 persons were fined Rs 200 by the marshals, while 3,505 were fined Rs 100. A total of 1,195 persons have been fined Rs 500, while 942 have been fined Rs 1,000. Littering on roads or spitting attracts a fine of Rs 200, while for defecating in the open, the fine is Rs 100. A vendor/hawker without a container/waste basket will have to pay Rs 500, while a person who does not deliver specified hazardous waste segregated will have to pay Rs 1,000.
A senior civic official said the roll-out of the scheme has helped bring about a sense of civic discipline in citizens. “We have even told the marshals to keep an eye on citizens throwing garbage in drains. Littering on streets is found to be one of the most common offences,” said an official.