: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) informed the Bombay High Court on Thursday that it brought down 15,021 illegal hoardings and banners in the city in 2015.
A division bench of Justices Abhay Oka and CV Bhadang was hearing public interest litigations filed in 2010 by various organisations against illegal hoardings and banners in the state.
Representing the civic body senior counsel Anil Sakhare said the BMC has “complied 100 per cent” with the previous order of the court and brought down 15,021 illegal hoardings in the city. He added that complaints against illegal hoardings can also be lodged on the civic body’s portal, and that these complaints are forwarded to the concerned wards.
The BMC also filed an affidavit in the court stating that wide publicity is being given to toll-free numbers 1292 and 1293 to lodge complaints against illegal banners and hoardings.
The affidavit says these telephone numbers are published in several newspapers, FM radio channels, and cinema theatres. It points out that the grievance redress cell is functional and has received 1059 complaints in the last six months.
The affidavit also mentions that 1,430 prosecutions have been filed against political and commercial banners, and 1,309 complaints have been filed, of which 127 FIRs have been registered.
Advocate Uday Warunjikar, appearing for one of the petitioners, produced several photos of hoardings put around Siddhivinayak temple in court. The municipal corporations of Amravati and Latur did not file their reply on compliance as per earlier court orders. The Kalyan-Dombivali and Mira-Bhayandar municipal corporations said the website for filing complaints against illegal hoardings will become functional soon.
The court reminded the municipal corporations to ensure no illegal hoarding, banner, or poster is put across the state on or before Republic Day.
