15,021 illegal posters, hoardings removed from Mumbai: BMC to HC

On November 25, the court had directed all the 19 municipal corporations across Maharashtra to conduct a special drive from December 5 to remove illegal posters, banners and hoardings and ensure there is no defacement of cities on Republic Day

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has removed 15,021 illegal posters, banners and hoardings, claimed the civic body before the Bombay high court (HC) on Thursday.

Senior advocate Anil Sakhare, representing the civic body, told the division bench of justice Abhay Oka and justice CV Bhadang that the municipal authorities have removed the illegal posters and banners across the city over the past one year.

Sakhare also informed the bench that the civic body has decided to increase the manpower not only to handle the telephone calls complaining about illegal posters, banners and hoardings, but also clear these on public holidays.

The court was hearing a bunch of public interest litigations (PILs) raising concern over the displayed illegal political posters and hoardings — especially on occasions of birthdays of political leaders or their appointments to various posts and before visits of prominent political leaders to cities and towns — defacing cities across Maharashtra.

On November 25, the court had directed all the 19 municipal corporations across Maharashtra to conduct a special drive from December 5 to remove illegal posters, banners and hoardings and ensure there is no defacement of cities on Republic Day.

Last week, the court had issued notices to 11 civic chiefs calling upon them to explain why action for contempt of court should not be initiated against them for failing to comply with the orders.