Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to allow 'limited' banners

While the civic body has planned continuous drives to remove illegal banners, it is wary of political parties/activists exploiting loopholes in the measures they have planned taking long-run considerations into account.

Even as political banners have been disallowed, putting up ones on religious events and public interest are allowed for now. Anticipating that political activists may try to stay in public eye by putting up their own religious/social posters, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has planned to limit till where such banners can be put up. These will include venues for events and along the road leading to the spot up to 100m from it.

Such norms are usually imposed during the festival season when the BMC charges pandals for raising advertisements in the premises. Civic authorities are now contemplating exercising this throughout the year.

“Until now, banners about such events would be hoisted across city. To bring it to an end, we are considering the option of limiting the areas where they can be put up,” additional municipal commissioner Mohan Adtani said, adding that demarcating zones across city for erecting banners is being mulled over.

Moreover, the municipal corporation also claimed that the Bombay high court, which had slapped it over the issue of illegal banners, appreciated its efforts of removing unauthorised posters across city in 24 hours after its orders.

The BMC on Friday reiterated that it will start penalising and prosecuting those who had put up such banners without its permission.

As per the Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, a person can be fined to the tune of Rs2,000 or imprisoned up to three months or both. Also, section 328 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, an offender can be penalised in the range of Rs1,000-Rs5,000.

@dna.eknath