Mumbai News: BMC Likely To Scrap Clean-Up Marshal Scheme After Complaints Of Extortion

The BMC's one-year contract with cleanup marshals is set to expire on April 5. However, it is unlikely to be extended following complaints from several civic wards, with residents accusing the marshals of overcharging and extorting money from citizens. The civic authorities are now planning to bolster their nuisance detector squad, which will focus on identifying and penalising offenders more effectively, said a senior civic official. 

The cleanup marshal scheme, introduced in 2007, has experienced multiple suspensions and revisions due to recurring grievances from citizens. These complaints primarily stemmed from the actions of the marshals, which led to the scheme being put on hold several times. However, the scheme was revived last year in April, with the BMC appointing 12 agencies across 24 administrative wards in the city. Each ward was assigned 30 marshals tasked with taking strict action against offenders.

Under the scheme, marshals were authorised to fine individuals caught engaging in activities such as spitting, defecating, or littering in public spaces. The fines range from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000, depending on the violation. To improve transparency and efficiency, the BMC also introduced a mobile app that allows marshals to issue penalty receipts electronically. In addition, individuals can also pay their fines online by scanning a QR code, further streamlining the process and making the system more transparent. However, the BMC still received several complaints against marshals misbehaving and extorting money from the citizens.

"Due to negligence in their duties, action was taken against seven out of the 12 private agencies involved in the cleanup marshal scheme. These agencies were supposed to pay over Rs. 60 lakh in fines, but to date, this amount remains unpaid. Since their contract expires on April 5, we have decided to not renew further. The proposal for the same has been sent to Muncipal commissioner for his approval," said a senior official. The Clean-Up Marshals have collected fines from 1.45 lakh citizens who were caught spitting in public, resulting in a total fine collection of Rs. 4.54 crore between April 4, 2024 to February 2025.