Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has threatened to register First Information Reports (FIRs) against those leaders whose photos are featured in hoardings and banners across the city. Even after the announcement of the model code of conduct for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, many political hoardings continue to be on display. Not only is the city’s beauty marred by hoardings at every nook and corner, they also obscure signs and traffic signals. Therefore, the corporation has started to act. It is compulsory to get permission from the concerned ward office before putting up any hoarding within municipal limits.
However, civic authorities say posters and flags can be used at political rallies. In the meantime, if illegal posters are plastered on walls, these will be removed and action will be initiated against the offenders. There is also a provision for penal action. From January 2018 to January 2019, the corporation has taken action against those responsible for 11,202 hoardings, 6,535 of which are those of political parties and leaders.
There were 1,875 commercial and 2,792 other banners. Complaints have been lodged against 2,295 at police stations and FIRs have been registered against 640. There has been an increase in the number of unauthorized advertisements for birthdays of politicians, meetings, rallies and other events and the BMC has received complaints. In January 2019 alone, the BMC pulled down 1,255 hoardings, of which 276 were in the R South division, with 120 billboards belonging to political parties. In the eastern section, out of 138, 48 political hoardings were removed.
