PMC fails to take action against all political parties for illegal banners

PUNE: Though the High Court has ordered filing of cases against unauthorised flexes and banners, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has failed to take action against political parties for illegal banners defacing the city. Now, they have requested the political parties to stop putting up banners. Thus the PMC has shirked its responsibility. The Bombay High Court, from time to time, has ordered all municipal corporations to take action against illegal banners, flexes and hoardings.

The court also imposed a fine on major political parties and and took affidavits from them regarding not putting up illegal banners, flexes and hoardings in the city.

Yet, the corporations have failed to take action against political parties. The PMC is one such corporation and city-based  civic activist Qaneez Sukhrani has filed a contempt of court petition against the PMC and the Police Department alleging that the trend of illegal hoardings is rampant across the city after the recent hoarding collapse incident. 

Now, PMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Nimbalkar has sent letters to all political parties and appealed to them to stop putting up flexes and banners defacing the city and referred to the  High Court order and action against political parties. But, the PMC has not warned them of action as per the court orders if they fail to do so. 

Speaking to Sakal Times, Nimbalkar said, “We sent letters to all political party leaders and requested them to instruct their party workers to stop putting up flexes and banners in the city. Right now, no political party has given any response.”

When asked why the PMC is not taking action against political parties, he said, “We will review our action and start action in coming days.”

Vijay Dahibhate, Head of PMC Sky Sign Department said, “From January till date, we took action against 192 banners and flexes which included some by political parties. Now, we have decided to take up the issue in all-party meeting in the PMC.”

Sukhrani said, “The PMC has already sent such letters to political parties. It will not serve any purpose. The PMC is showing that they are under political pressure to take action against political parties. However, the High Court has given clear cut order to file cases and take action against illegal banners, flexes and hoardings. Besides, the PMC commissioner has rights under the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act, 1995, Bombay Police Act, Section 115A 117 and Indian Penal Code Section 425 and 427. The PMC officials are taking salary from public money and not from politicians. Then why are they afraid?”  

Mayor Mukta Tilak said, “We will discuss illegal hoardings, flexes and banner issue on Friday at the all-party leaders meeting and take appropriate decision.”

PMC ACTION
The PMC has set up mechanism as per the High Court order such as helpline for registering complaints of illegal hoardings, flexes and banners. An officer has been deputed to take action along with the police. One official claimed they had taken action against only 9 to 10 political banners, flexes and hoardings out of 195 from last one year. These actions were taken in Dattawadi area only. However, civic activist Qaneez Sukhrani got information through RTI that the PMC took action against only one political party leader.