‘Will take years for people to realise civic duties’

The Bombay high court on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the litter on roads across the city, including plush areas in south Mumbai. HT reports.

The Bombay high court on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the litter on roads across the city, including plush areas in south Mumbai. The court also termed the increasing use of polythene bags as a menace.

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“The (clean-up marshals) scheme should be continued until our people (city residents) realise their civic duties,” said the division bench comprising justice Ranjana Desai and justice RV More, while hearing a public interest litigation on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) scheme.

The judges told BMC’s counsel Komal Punjabi not to discontinue the scheme. “It is difficult to teach our people social ethics, it will take years for our people to realise their civic duties,” justice Desai added.

Punjabi replied that the BMC standing committee, on May 20, granted approval for restarting the scheme. The counsel informed the court that the committee has cleared five security agencies for providing clean-up marshals. However, Punjabi said it will take one-and-half months for the scheme to restart.

Punjabi pointed out that security agencies will be required to obtain clearance from the police before appointing marshals. The court directed the special branch of the Mumbai police to complete the verification of security personnel to be recruited as clean-up marshals within 15 days.

The judges also told the BMC that the clean-up marshals should make rounds of all the areas within the territory allotted to them.