11 January,2023 06:17 AM IST | Mumbai | The Editorial
Illegal hoardings along the boundary wall of SGNP, Borivli on Sunday. Pic/Satej Shinde
Illegal hoardings and banners have again come into the spotlight with civic activists filing complaints, our lead report stated in the paper. BMC chief Iqbal Singh Chahal, during the review meeting of the civic body's Rs 2,000-crore Mumbai beautification plan, directed officials to take strict action against these. As per BMC records, it takes action against approximately 22,000 such banners each year and files around 800 cases.
A civic activist rightly said that BMC officials can take action [on illegal hoardings], but what about politicians who set up their hoardings and banners for festivals and new year for free publicity? He added that unless politicians change their mindset, this problem is likely to persist.
While certain permissions may be taken, it is definite that hoardings are being put up by several political parties with their leader's photos and one is certain not all these have been done with permission.
Also Read: Mumbai: Need political will to tackle illegal hoardings, says civic activist
These banners come up with astonishing speed, in fact, one wishes that the leaders were as quick to respond to meritorious complaints about a number of city issues.
This edit space has highlighted earlier how these banners are plastered all over the metropolis as one leader or the other is wished a âhappy birthday' by followers or, somebody or the other bestows some other kind of sentiment on them. During festive times, these are all over the place pasted on walls, hanging over our heads and sometimes staring down at traffic signals as the city is wished a happy this or that.
This can change only when the leaders themselves come up with a policy such as saying no to these self-congratulatory banners that are little more than an ego massage. Let them show that maturity to take a call on this themselves, as this will be more effective than laws or action to bring an end to this.
