The Indian Express                       02.04.2013

Illegal hoardings: Civic body to file cases against 217 parties

Fifteen days after the Bombay High Court ultimatum to the civic administration to remove all illegal hoardings, posters and banners in the city, BMC has initiated prosecution in 217 cases. In 2012, BMC had sought prosecution of 67 parties.

"We will file cases against these 217 groups or people for violating rules," said Sharad Bande, superintendent of licences. The civic administration had removed over 6,000 illegal posters, banners and political hoardings within two days of the HC order.

"Following the order, the number of illegal hoardings and banners has come down drastically, barring a few stray cases," said Bande, adding that these are mostly seen near residential areas in the bylanes. Officials claim that earlier, they would remove almost 2,500-3,000 illegal hoardings and banners — 70 per cent of which were political — a year.

"This year, there were few hoardings on the eve of Shivaji Jayanti, unlike previous years," said an official. While BMC has not given permission for political hoardings after the HC diktat, it is in the process of implementing the Delhi model of 'zero tolerance'. For religious, cultural and social banners and hoardings, prior permission needs to be taken along with payment of requisite charges to BMC, the official added.

Action can be initiated against a person for putting up an illegal banner under Section 328 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act of 1888. According to the rules, the person concerned can be fined Rs 1,000-5,000 depending upon the extent of violation. Besides, as per Section 3 of Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995, an offender can be fined up to Rs 2,000 and/or imprisoned for three months.