After two years, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched its new team of clean-up marshals on Tuesday, April 2, to penalise citizens for several offences at public place.
These teams have been appointed on a pilot basis in A-ward (Colaba, Churchgate area) and C ward (Kalbadevi, Marine Lines).
However, this time, for transparency, penalties will be collected online. The clean-up marshals have been equipped with an app, which will be used to levy fines up to INR 1,000 on violators. It includes spitting, littering, urinating or defecating in public, garbage burning, illegal dumping of waste and not picking up pet waste.
The online penalty platform was developed by the BMC’s IT department. They are equipped with a small printer connected to their mobile through Bluetooth. They can print the receipt of the penalty and the amount will be deposited in their agency. While the option of cash will also be available for those willing to do so.
It is pertinent to note that the scheme to have marshals in every civic ward was introduced in 2007. However, it was discontinued several times amidst extortion allegations. So, the BMC came up with the idea of introducing a digital mode of payment and police verification of marshals.
In a bid to maintain cleanliness across the city, the civic body is slated to press up to 750 clean-up marshals: 30 marshals will be deployed in each ward.
Share
Tweet
