Swachh Mumbai Mission: Cleanup Marshals to Enforce Cleanliness Across the City

Mumbai: In an effort to combat the persistent issue of waste and debris being discarded in public spaces, Mumbai authorities have imposed a ban on such activities. A pioneering move in this direction is the decision to appoint cleanup marshals in each ward of the municipality. The initiation of this plan is scheduled to commence within the next 10 days, subject to approval from the administrators.

These designated cleanup marshals will be vested with the authority to take action against individuals engaging in activities that contribute to public uncleanliness, including open spitting, performing natural rituals, and littering. Monetary fines ranging from Rs. 200 to Rs. 1,000 will be imposed on those found guilty of spreading litter and pollution in public spaces.

The need for these cleanup marshals arose as the contract with the organization providing similar services expired two years ago, resulting in a lack of marshals in the city. This vacuum has contributed to cleanliness-related challenges in Mumbai.

To complement the efforts of cleanup marshals, an earlier decision was made to appoint a sanitation ambassador, also known as ‘Swachhta Doot,’ in Mumbai. These ambassadors will lead a comprehensive campaign addressing cleanliness issues, including public awareness initiatives, reporting cleaning requirements to the administration, and monitoring waste classification in societies.

To incentivize effective implementation, the municipality administration has decided to distribute half of the fines collected to the concerned contractor and the remaining half to the municipality. This revenue-sharing model aims to ensure the sustainability of the initiative. Furthermore, the municipality will transition to online fine collection to address previous disputes and allegations of corruption during the fine collection process.

Fines for unsanitary actions will range from Rs. 200 to Rs. 1,000, with half of the amount going to the contractor and the other half contributing to municipal revenue.

As Mumbai prepares to introduce cleanup marshals and sanitation ambassadors, coupled with the shift to online fine collection, these measures signify a determined effort by the municipality to enhance cleanliness and curb public littering. The impact of these initiatives is expected to be felt across the city in the coming days.