Thanekars allege that complaints to remove the posters falls on deaf ears.
The posters and banners have always defaced city, but many residents have said it annoys most when birthday wishes of political bigwigs are bombarded deliberately. Thanekars allege that complaints against the posters falls on deaf ears.
Akshay More, a Manpada resident, said, "The entire city gets to know of the birthdays of any corporator as no place is spared. The whole city is painted and defaced and when we try to complaint about the banners to the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), nobody responds." The residents even alleged that the toll free number to complaint about banners and posters menace works rarely and if they calling on the landline is waste of time.
The group Planet Friends had taken up the task to clean the city and had removed all the posters from the walls and flyovers. However, in a few days, posters and banners wishing guardian minister Eknath Shinde were put up.
The members from Planet Friends had met the minister, who had assured them that this would not repeat and he would take strict action. However, nothing has been done so far. "Starting from March 25 till April 1, everyday an old poster has been replaced by birthday wishes for a new corporator and this has not stopped," added More.
The residents said every prime location in the city is filled with banners and posters and they civic body does not bother to pull them down.
KD Nipurte, deputy commissioner (zone 1) and in-charge for illegal posters and banners said, "There are paid spots in the city for putting up posters and banners and we pull down the illegal ones." However, when he was asked about the ones at SATIS area and near Kapurbawdi flyover, he said they are illegal and action will be taken soon. He added that toll free number would be fixed soon.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "political-banner")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}