Taking serious note of the hordes of illegal political banners that have mushroomed across the city during Ganeshotsav, the BMC has decided to file police complaints against political parties that have put up such hoardings near Ganpati pandals.
Following pressure from politicians and Ganpati mandals, the BMC had allowed the installation of hoardings within 100 metres of the pandals, provided they are not political in nature. However, almost everywhere in the city, political hoardings can be seen welcoming the devotees and offering their best wishes to the mandals.
The BMC has now decided to take a tough stand against these political hoardings. Additional municipal commissioner M.M. Adtani said, “We have already asked the concerned political parties to remove their hoardings put up in the city during the festival. Those who will not follow will face strict action. FIRs will be filed against political parties for erecting illegal hoardings under the Defacement Of Property Act.”
As per the BMC’s guidelines for Ganeshotsav, political banners and boards will be permitted only within 100 metres of the pandals and not be at display on public roads and pavements. However, most of the political hoardings have been put up well outside the 100-metre limit, while at some places they have been erected with no Ganpati pandal in sight.
According to civic officials, political parties have taken advantage of lack of BMC’s fixed policy on hoardings and banners. The policy has been in the pipeline for several months, giving the parties leeway to put up hoardings as per their will.
Advertisements and banners are the main source of income for the Ganesh mandals during the festival.
Civic standing committee chairman Rahul Shew-ale, whose own picture has been seen on several political banners in Dad-ar, supported the drive against illegal political banners. Saying he had nothing to do with these banners, he said the BMC should take action against unauthorised hoardings.