In six months, BMC has removed over 10,000 illegal hoardings

In the past six months, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken down 10,653 illegal hoardings from various locations throughout the city, 3,523 of which were political hoardings that were damaging several chowks, signals, and junctions. The BMC's licence division removed any illegitimate banners, posters, boards, cut-outs of advertisements, birthday greetings, or holiday greetings—most of which were placed by political parties.

 

According to data from January 1 to June 30, 2022, there were about 641 police complaints and 13 FIRs registered in relation to illegal hoardings. There are currently 437 cases under investigation. An official from the city said, "The police complaints have been filed under the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995, which stipulates that a person can be fined Rs 2,000 or face three-months imprisonment, or both. Additionally, an offender can be punished under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act and fined between Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000 for placing illegal hoardings or posters in the city.

 

10,653 hoardings were removed from public property, of which 1,764 were posters, 1,380 were boards, and 6,300 were banners. The majority of these hoardings were religious in nature (6308). The civic organisation also took down 1,209 flags, but no wall defacing was discovered. The fact that illegal hoardings are against the law is well known to politicians. Still, they continue to deface the city," said Malad activist Vinod Gholap.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @RoadCrusade