Sky-sign under public vigilance
The BMC should take strict action against unauthorised, vulgar hoardings, says NGO
Laiq Qureshi. Fort

Wherever we go, the first thing that meets our eyes would be huge hoardings put up by political parties, whether they are greetings during Diwali from local corporators or election announcements. However, majority of the hoardings don't come down despite the lapse of permission.
According to BMC sources, there are specific guidelines on the Grant of Permission for Display of Sky-Signs and Advertisements u/s 328 & 328A of MMC Act 1888, but the political hoardings don't seem to be adhering to the guidelines. For instance, the hoardings put around the Mantralaya to wish Vilasrao Deshmukh on his birthday are still around, even though the fifth-day is about to end.

"There should be a transparent method by the BMC to takes action against unauthorised, obstructive or vulgar hoardings," said Vinay Somani, convenor, NGO Council, who is collecting information about complaints from citizens regarding unauthorised hoardings. "If a hoarding is not removed then we forfeit the deposit, which is 25 per cent of the actual fee for putting up the hoardings. At the ward-level removal action is also taken," said an official. "Citizens who have a problem against any of the hoardings in their area may reach out to the BMC at 1916," said Somani.

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