BMC, cops passing buck to penalise smokers at beach

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and police are passing the buck when it comes to penalising smokers and taking action to prevent smoking and usage of tobacco at Juhu beach.

The beach is a public place and smoking is an offence, however no authorities have been seen taking any action against the smokers. Mission Green Mumbai, in its clean-up drive Saturday, collected more than 1,000 cigarette butts and tobacco packets at Juhu beach. Early this month, 4,000 such butts were collected at the same place.

“The number of cigarette butts collected says it is high time and action needs to be taken against smokers at the beach. Smoking and using tobacco causes cancer and it should be stopped at least at public places. It seems the beach has become a smoking destination,” said Subhajit Mukherjee, founder of MGM, which carried out the clean-up drive Saturday. Some 40 volunteers from the Bank of America and students from Oriental College, Andheri, participated in the drive. Mukherjee added, “I have requested the BMC and the police to fine the smokers on the beach as it is a crime but they and the police pass on the buck.”

Assistant municipal commissioner (K/west ward), Prashant Gaikwad, said, “It is the police’s duty to penalise the smokers. BMC’s job is to clean the beach which is done twice a day. The garbage includes cigarette butts”.

While, senior police inspector of Santacruz police station, Sriram Koregaonkar, said, “BMC has deployed staff of 25 to 30 people on the beach.”

They can stop the smokers. However, I will check what steps can be taken to prevent smoking on the beach.”