Will find out details about hoardings, says Mayor

Two firms belonging to newly-elected Mayor Shraddha Jadhav, Manohar Decorators and Mukund Krupa Travels, and Shiv Sena shakha number 169 have erected illegal hoardings across the city congratulating her, reports Naresh Kamath.

Two firms belonging to newly-elected Mayor Shraddha Jadhav, Manohar Decorators and Mukund Krupa Travels, and Shiv Sena shakha number 169 have erected illegal hoardings across the city congratulating her.

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After her win on Tuesday, Jadhav had mentioned in her bio-data circulated to the media that the two firms belong to her and her husband.

AGNI (Action for Good Governance and Networking in India), an NGO, deplored the mayor’s act. “Such hoardings, posters and banners deface the city. If the mayor breaks the law, what can we say of others,” AGNI trustee Sharad Kumar said.

The mayor defended the act of putting up the hoardings but went on the defensive when asked if she should not lead by example.

Putting the onus on corporators and party workers, she said, “I will inquire and find out details from my office.”

Civic officials said those who put up hoardings without obtaining the permission of the licence department can be arrested.

“But we buckle under political pressure whenever such violations are brought to our notice,” said an officer from the licence department on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

In 2008, BMC had estimated that approximately 20 lakh posters, banners and hoardings were put up across the city, of which only 1,590 were legal.

The officials concerned did not fine a single political party.