The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in 2007 initiated the project. As part of the initiative private security agencies were authorised to fine people found spitting, urinating or littering public places.

More than a lakh people have been fined so far and around 80,000 have been asked to involve themselves in community services. Despite the corporators’ demand, civic officials said that the marshals will continue their work adding that those opposing the project are ‘against cleanliness.’

Standing committee chairman and Shiv Sena leader, Ravindra Waikar said that he has received a number of complaints from other corporators on the marshals. “The initiative was good on paper but the civic administration has failed in implementing it in a fair manner. The purpose behind appointing these marshals has failed and there is no point in continuing this,” he said. He added that the issue will be taken up in the group leaders’ meeting.

Waikar further said that many marshals fail to fine people as they fear being roughed up by them. Others, he added, pocket some of the money. “Moreover, if anyone questions the marshals, they threaten people and violators to directly talk to the higher level officials. The local ward level officials have no control on the marshals,” he said.

Senior civic officials on condition of anonymity said that corporators are against the marshals as they have no control over them. “Ward level officials refuse to cooperate saying that higher authorities need to be consulted. This weakens the corporators’ reputation and many feel that instead of private guards, BMC should have in-house guards doing the job,” said Waikar.

Additional Municipal Commissioner, RA Rajeev, said there was no question of scrapping the initiative. “The standing committee and corporators have themselves given the permission for the extension of the initiative. I have not received any complaints from corporators regarding the marshals,” he said.

He added that if people or corporators are against the project then they should suggest a better scheme to keep the city clean. “The onus of keeping the city clean is upon each one of us,” he added.