Bhayandar: Less than 10 days after the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) imposed a ban on installing any type of hoardings, banners and posters in the twin-city, the rule is being flouted by none other than the BJP – which single handedly rules the civic body. The brazen violation was exposed after the local BJP unit which is organising a grand Navratri event in Bhayandar installed a huge banner at the venue on Wednesday.
“Apart from the party symbol and photographs of BJP leaders, the banner carries the MBMC logo in the private event. Thus creating an impression that the civic administration is supporting the illegalities under political pressure,” alleged social activist Krishna Gupta who immediately dashed off complaints to concerned officials.
The photo of the banner which went viral on social media invited sharp criticism from Netizens. Bowing to pressure, the MBMC finally removed the banner in the evening. However, penal action is yet to be imposed on offenders. “It was the BJP which took a lead to make the city banner free. We had moved a proposal to allow banners within a certain radius of pandals during festivals,” defended BJP corporator Dhruv Kishor Patil. The civic administration is yet to give a nod to such relaxations, it is learnt.
Installing temporary hoardings, banners and posters at public places is bound to attract penal action under the various sections of the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act. The offence is recognised as a cognisable one making it mandatory for the police to register FIRs against the offenders. Apart from monetary fines, those convicted under the law could face three months in jail.