Mumbai : A day after Bombay High Court asked all the municipal corporations to publicise their toll free numbers for illegal hoardings, FPJ has found that Mumbaikars, known to have a penchant for civic activism, have shown no enthusiasm towards fighting the menace. The civic license department in Mumbai, through their two toll-free numbers, has received only 26 complaints for illegal banners, posters and hoardings in the past two weeks, thus underlining apathy and lack of awareness among Mumbaikars.
The BMC’s license department had started two toll-free numbers earlier this month where citizens can lodge a complaint about any religious, political or commercial hoarding which is obstructing traffic or defacing the surroundings. Citizens can lodge a complaint on either 1291 or 1293, wherein they would have to give the exact location of the hoarding as well as the type. The complaint is registered immediately, after which the person is asked to call in five minutes to collect a 10-digit SAP number. This number helps the person track this complaint with the concer-ned ward office in the future. However, the department does not allow for anonymous complaints in order to avoid frivolous complaints.
Mumbaikars show no enthusiasm towards city getting rid of illegal hoardings as BMC’s toll-free numbers for illegal hoardings receive only 26 complaints
When asked if are not the citizens listless about reporting illegal hoardings, trustee of the Bandra Bandstand Residents Trust Robin Nath, said, “I agree that there is little awareness among people. But the fact that the number of complaints is so few may also be because of the condition that people cannot do so anonymously. Especially in the case of illegal political hoardings, citizens are afraid to lodge a complaint since they believe the politician will hunt them down! This has happened in the past.”
However, there is a High Court directive stating that the complainant’s identity should not be disclosed, especially to the offender.
The BMC has already formed awareness committees in each ward which comprise of five reputed citizens of the area and is headed by the assistant commissioner for that ward. The committee will thus relay information on illegal hoardings to the concerned nodal officer and also report on the promptness and effectiveness of the action taken. This committee will meet every month, and will also stay in touch with the nodal officer for complaints.
“We are trying our best to create awareness about this issue through our public relations committee and advertising committee at the ward level,” said Sharad Bande, superintendent of the license department.
Of the 26 complaints registered so far from all the 24 wards, the highest number is that of political hoardings (8) while the rest are commercial, religious or miscellaneous.
