Mumbai News: BMC Ends Clean-Up Marshal Scheme, Warns Agencies Against Collecting Fines

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a stern warning to agencies overseeing the clean-up marshals scheme, directing them to immediately cease all activities related to fines. The civic authorities has also made it clear that legal action will be taken if any marshals are found collecting fines from the public, despite the official discontinuation of their services.

The one-year contract of the marshals expired on Friday, with the BMC choosing not to renew their services. Last April, the BMC had deployed 12 agencies across 24 administrative wards, assigning 30 marshals per ward. Their primary responsibility was to enforce cleanliness and penalise offenders, with fines ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 for offenses such as littering, spitting, and defecating in public spaces.

However, the BMC received numerous complaints about the marshals’ misconduct, including allegations of extortion and overcharging. These complaints ultimately led to the BMC’s decision to discontinue the Clean-Up Marshal scheme. Going forward, the BMC plans to focus on strengthening the Nuisance Detection (ND) Squad, with recruitment for new staff set to begin in the coming months. Currently, the ND squad squad operates with just 22 staff members out of the required 105. The BMC aims to recruit additional personnel within the next two months to address the growing concerns of public cleanliness and enforcement.

"We have instructed the concerned agencies to ensure that their marshals are no longer seen on the streets collecting fines, as their services have been officially discontinued. Should any complaints from citizens be registered regarding such activities, the BMC will not hesitate to file an FIR against the responsible agency,” stated a senior civic official. 

The BMC recently published a draft of the revised Solid Waste Management by-laws, and in just the past four days, has received 25 emails containing suggestions and objections. "The public hearing process will take another two months to complete. In the interim, we will also move forward with recruiting new personnel for the Nuisance Detection (ND) Squad, ensuring that their roles and responsibilities are clearly defined," the official further added.