The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has pulled down 1,582 hoardings after the model code of conduct came into force on Sunday evening. The civic body also temporarily covered 1,898 existing signs and filed 35 police complaints against violators.
Municipal staffers sprung into action as soon as the model code of conduct came into effect and started removing all unauthorised posters, banners, boards, flags, and wall writing from the city. The BMC does not use the word ‘hoarding’.
By the end of Monday, BMC staffers had removed 1,501 posters and banners from public properties, and 81 posters and banners from private properties across its 24 wards in the city.
Among the wards, 282 hoardings, the highest number, were removed from Kandivali, 249 from the S ward consisting of Bhadup, Powai and Kanjurmarg and 188 hoardings from Dahisar. The highest number of hoardings from private properties (35) were removed from Andheri (West).
According to the provisions of the model code of conduct, the BMC has to cover all public signs that bear the names of political leaders. For instance, the names of political leaders mentioned on a plaque put up outside a public toilet during its inauguration have to be covered. All such signs have to be covered under the head ‘defacement removal’ till the elections end.
As of March 11, the BMC has covered 1,817 boards bearing the names of political leaders across its wards. The highest number of such signs were removed from Byculla (845), Malad (508) and Goregaon (246).
When an illegal hoarding is spotted, the BMC is supposed to take action against the offender under the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995. The BMC has to send a letter to the police station and the police have to file an FIR on the matter.
Jitendra Bansode, joint superintendent of licence, BMC, said, “Every unauthorised poster and banner will be removed till the model code of conduct is in effect. As per rules, hoardings can be put up only at designated spots with permission. Politicians are unlikely to put up unauthorised hoardings when the model code of conduct is in force as they fear backlash from the people.”