Reduction in average daily action across wards in Aug suggests BMC getting lenient, sources say marshals will be told to fan out in markets
A BMC marshal at Gateway of India on August 1. File pic
While many clean up marshals are still seen across the city at various signals and outside stations fining the mask-less, they are hardly visible at market areas. With the opening up of the city, many citizens are seen dropping their guard and being mask-less in marketplaces. Instead of action against the mask-less increasing, there has been a drop in average daily cases across the civic wards in the city. Civic sources have said that marshals will start frequenting marketplaces as festivals are just around the corner.
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The number of average daily cases against the mask-less has gone down from 233 per ward in June to 222 per ward in August, suggesting leniency in enforcing the mask-wearing.
A BMC marshal fines the mask-less near Crawford Market. File pic
A civic official said, “There are complaints about three to four men coming in a group and fining citizens for not wearing masks. While we are appealing to citizens to wear a mask, we will also ask the marshals to spread out in markets and shopping areas. As things have opened up and now festivals are approaching, many will start visiting markets.”
The BMC has so far earned Rs 54.98 crore in fines collected through 27.31 lakh cases. The action against the mask-less started last year. The K west ward alone has recovered over Rs 4.63 crore from over 2.29 lakh cases. Even as the BMC had plans to increase the fine amount during the second wave, it is yet to implement such a decision as cases have reduced and the pandemic seems under control.
233
Average daily action per ward in June
222
Average daily action per ward in August
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