TO PROMOTE cleanliness in the city, the civic body has for the first time constituted annual cleanliness awards across Mumbai in 20 different categories, which were declared on Thursday .

The step was taken after the BMC introduced the concept of clean up marshals - security staff appointed by the civic body to keep a vigil on people littering in the city.

Mayor Shubha Raul and Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak judged the participants in different categories including best maintained civic schools, gardens, Area Locality Management (ALM group), hospital, societies, police stations, railway stations, administrative and electoral wards. Winners will be given prize money varying from Rs 10,000 to Rs 10 lakh in various categories, in addition to certificates and appreciation.

For one month beginning March 20, 2008 the Hindustan Times had joined hands with the civic body and launched a ‘Clean-Up!' campaign in its efforts to clean the city This was . done by tackling various problem areas affecting the city's cleanliness - like spitting, open defecation.

HT, in fact, in the clean up campaign had featured the Pestom Sagar ALM in Chembur, which maintains the cleanliness of their area that has won the Best ALM award. Similarly Triratna Prerana Mandal, whose innovative efforts of running the cleanest public toilet in the city were highlighted in HT, has won the award for the best Slum Sanitation project.

Raul said these awards will be a source of inspiration for others. "Many citizen groups work hard and their efforts need to be recognised. Similar is the case with railway stations and stationmasters. If we show recognition for good work, it can multiply and grow," she said.

URL: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=09_05_2008_007_002&typ=0&pub=264