Mumbaikars seek freedom from garbage

Mumbai: If you’re visiting Kolovary village in Kalina, Santacruz east, be prepared to be greeted by huge signboards announcing “Cash prize of Rs 1,000 if waste is put in the garbage bin”.

In a first, residents of this village along with those of an adjoining slum have introduced a scheme where those who dump garbage regularly in civic bins may get rewarded Rs 1,000 upon being selected by a residents’ panel.

The scheme was started two weeks ago to celebrate this Independence Day.

Pradip Nambiar, a resident, said, “Initially, despite having garbage bins, garbage used to overflow and spill onto the road. Walking on roads had become unhygienic.

Hence, we decided to initiate a move to stop littering. There is only one dumping spot which serves residents of private housing societies, villagers and slum dwellers of Kunchikurve Nagar.”

The campaign was kicked off earlier in August, initially with roses as prize, till it was later decided to have a cash prize for those who dumped garbage in bins.

Two villagers have been deployed as cleanup marshals to keep tabs on people who dump waste in the bin.

The duo notifies names of such residents who then win the cash prize. Funds for the cash prize come from residents’ contribution.

Residents said that there was too much illegal parking, preventing the BMC garbage truck from collecting the waste.