The Times of India                        14.03.2013

Illegal hoardings to go in 24 hours: BMC

MUMBAI: The BMC has assured that it will remove all illegal political hoardings and banners which mar the city's skyline within 24 hours, following the Bombay High Court's order on Wednesday.

"All political hoardings and banners will be removed at any cost as there's a high court order. We regularly pull down hoardings with the help of the encroachment removal squad and advertisement inspectors," said Rajendra Bhosale, deputy municipal commissioner (special).

Several politicians enjoy free publicity through sky signs, posters, banners, arches and hoardings which are used to announce party rallies, greet leaders on their birthdays and festivals, and during elections.

Bhosale said an inspection report is first filed by a ward's advertising inspector and legal assistant. The offenders can be prosecuted under Section 471 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act. The BMC then files an FIR and the matter goes to the city civil court. The court issues a warrant and the trial begins.

The civic body has blamed its inability to nab offenders saying they put up banners at night. "Political banners usually come up at night. The BMC cannot keep a vigil. Political volunteers and their workers put them up, but political leaders should be held responsible. Every time a top leader visits the city, they put up complimentary banners on electric poles or anywhere else. Our licence inspector files a case but cannot trace the person who has actually put up the banners," said Bhosale.

He added that legally it becomes difficult to prove if an MLA or an MP is responsible; the BMC resorts to giving addresses of the party office in court. Bhosale has now warned political workers against putting up banners saying this is not the only way to show their loyalty towards a party and its leaders. He told TOI banners are mostly found in western suburbs as dignitaries visit the city via the airport.