Cleanup drive scrapped,film still in can

The fate of the film is undecided as the BMC had scrapped the clean-up marshall drive after stiff opposition from corporators. The civic administration had said that the three-year-old Clean-up Mumbai campaign will be scrapped and another scheme will be introduced by December 31. Meanwhile the clean-up marshalls will continue their drive for the month of December.

“Both the animation film and the slide show are ready since 3-4 months now,” said B P Patil,Chief Engineer Solid Waste Management (SWM).

“The animation film was conceptualised to make it more attractive for not only adults but for children also. The film gives information about how waste management is carried out in the city,” said a senior official with the Solid Waste Management Department. According to the official,“The animation film has been shown in a college but is yet to reach a wider audience.” “If we don’t have clean-up marshalls,what is the point of showing the slide show to public,” said another official.

Launched in 2007,Mumbai Clean-Up drive had cleaup marshalls from five private agencies visiting various spots and locations in the city and fining people for littering or dirtying public places.

Not only this,over two years ago Suniel Shetty’s Popcorn Entertainment had made a film Chakachak Mumbai to create awareness for a cleaner city. That too has to see the light of the day. Though the BMC had not funded the film it had provide its support.

This big budget-Bollywood film,which has Rahul Bose,Cyrus Broacha,Vinay Pathak and Ayesha Dharker,is apparently stuck in post production.

Chakachak Mumbai has been made with a lot of support and participation from BMC. “While the BMC had not funded the film it had provided active support,” said an official. The protagonist of the movie is a clean up worker who cleans the streets of Mumbai.

“I am disappointed that the film has still not seen the light of the day. Especially as it was a very nice venture and it would have encouraged people to maintain a cleaner city. Such awareness drives are the need of the hour,” said R A Rajeev,Municipal Commissioner,Thane.

Rajeev was the additional municipal commissioner of BMC when the movie was proposed.