Clean-up marshals rake in Rs 17 cr in 2 years

Mumbai: Despite receiving some flak, clean-up marshals have managed to contribute crores of rupees to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s coffers. In the last two years, they have collected fines of up to Rs 17 crore from more than eight lakh people for littering in public. In 2016, BMC had appointed 22 private security agencies in 24 administrative wards for a period of one year to implement cleanliness norms. Last year, they were given an extension of a year.

In B-ward, the concerned agency was not allowed to operate for failing to submit the required documents, whereas in E-ward, the BMC had asked the concerned agency to stop its work after serious complaints.

Clean-up marshals of the remaining 20 agencies were given the task of stopping people from littering in public and collecting fines in the range of Rs 100-1000 from them. Fifty per cent of the fines collected are being given to the civic body.

According to civic data, in the first year, security agencies collected fines up to Rs 9 crore from 3,76,000 lakh people. The BMC received its 50 per cent share of Rs 4.5 crore. In the second year, they collected fines of Rs 8.06 crore from 4,54,158 people. BMC got Rs 4.03 crore.

“The tenure of these private security agencies came to an end in July and August this year. New agencies will be appointed in the new year. Till then, the BMC has decided to give a four-month extension to these 20 agencies,” said a senior civic official.

But there have been allegations of extortion against some marshals. Civic activist Nikhil Desai said, “The BMC should not just look to make profits from the scheme. It should ensure the marshals are doing their jobs .”properly.”