Despite High Court’s ruling to take strict action against illegal hoardings, posters and banners, political party members continue to deface the city
It appears that abolishing illegal banners and posters by political leaders in the city is turning into a Herculean task for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). While the ‘no political banner/poster’ policy is still sitting with the civic body, parties continue to deface the city with banners without legal permission.
On November 17, the city was plastered with banners on Bal Thackeray’s second death anniversary. Pic/Nimesh Dave
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After late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s death anniversary saw hundreds of illegal banners in the city, the second-in-command at the BMC did not want to be left behind. Welcome banners for General Secretary of BJP, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, were placed all along the leader’s route as he landed in the city on Thursday morning.
Western Express Highway (WEH) had welcome banners along the road from the airport till Bandra reclamation. Pic/Suresh KK
BJP leaders, along with the Shiv Sena at the BMC, have been strongly opposing defacing the city and have appealed to their party workers to avoid placing illegal banners and posters. However, the ruling alliance at the civic body has not passed the illegal banner policy for over a year and a half now.
Last year, the Bombay High Court had taken a strict stand against illegal hoardings, posters and banners and had directed the BMC to levy fines and take action against people who put them up. However, on Thursday, the Western Express Highway (WEH) saw banners along the road from the airport till Bandra reclamation.
Sharad Bande, licence superintendent at the BMC, who is in charge of the removal of these banners, said, “We will remove the banners at the earliest as it was put up without any permission. We will also take strict action against people whose names were written on the banner as ‘well wishers’.”
When asked about the status of the illegal banner policy, he said, “It is pending with the leaders for now.” mid-day tried to contact the spokesperson of BJP, Niranjan Shetty, but he was not reachable for a comment.
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