The Times of India             24.09.2013

‘No illegal banners for Ganeshotsav in 5 wards’

MUMBAI: According to the municipal corporation, there was not a single illegal hoardings in five of the 24 city wards during Ganeshotsav.

According to data released by the BMC, as no action was initiated against any political party or Ganpati mandal in A ward (CST to Cuffe Parade), C ward (Bhuleshwar), D ward (Malabar Hill, Tardeo), G-South ward (Worli, Prabhadevi) and N ward (Ghatkopar) hence, there were no unauthorized hoardings in these areas.

The data has caught citizens by surprise as D ward houses several old Ganpati mandals. "Nana Chowk, Girgaum and Tardeo, which fall in D ward, were filled with political hoardings. How can the municipal corporation's data show that there was no illegal hoarding in these areas," asked Rajesh Tiwari, a resident of Nana Chowk.

Till date, the BMC has filed 352 police complaints against political parties and even Ganpati mandals under the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act and sections 328(a) and 471 of the MMC Act in its on-going drive against illegal banners and hoardings during the festival.

The highest number of complaints have been filled against the Shiv Sena (43), followed by Congress (42). The MNS and the NCP ranked third with 15 FIRs against them. The Aam Aadmi Party saw one FIR against it.

During the Ganesh festival, civic officials had removed more than 450 banners and posters that were placed beyond the permissible 100-metre radius of a pandal.