Mumbai: BMC cracks down on illegal banners

On September 30, the BMC and other civic bodies were directed to pull down illegal materials, beginning that day and lasting until 10 days after the October 15 polls.

Seven first information reports have been filed and 173 police complaints were lodged against illegal hoardings, banners and other such material in the past three months, a fresh affidavit filed in the Bombay high court by the civic body shows.

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Filed by Rajendra Vale, deputy municipal commissioner (special), the affidavit shows 4,751 illegal materials were removed, including flags, boards and posters.

On September 30, the BMC and other civic bodies were directed to pull down illegal materials, beginning that day and lasting until 10 days after the October 15 polls. The court had urged strict action during this period, as illegalities were expected to increase.

Most removals were recorded in September (3,628); there were 587 removals in October and 536 in August, according to BMC data.

Around 60% of the removed materials were religious or social in nature, the data showed, while 14% was political material.

The court has been hearing a public interest litigation on illegal installations across the state, filed by the Suswarajya Foundation.

The civic body’s affidavit also said assistant commissioners have constituted citizen committees at the ward-level to check and help raise awareness – as per court directions – in all but four wards. The BMC has also set up two more toll-free numbers: 1292 and 1293, for citizens to lodge complaints.

The matter will be heard on November 24.