Mumbai will continue to get defaced with banners mushrooming across city with the state going to polls within next the two months.
This is because the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has not put in place its banner policy for nearly a year and politicos within the civic body are unlikely to approve it, allegedly to remain in public eye until the assembly elections get over.
Procrastination
Taking a major step towards banning political hoardings in the run up to election year of 2014, the municipal administration had tabled the proposal policy before group leaders for their approval on September 27, 2013. The group leaders, heads of parties in the corporation, though had deferred their decision saying they wanted the proposed policy to be comprehensive. The policy has not been tabled before the leaders since.
"The policy is ready on part of the municipal administration. It just requires approval on part of the corporators. But there is no hurry on their part to discuss it. Probably because the elections are in sight," an official said, wishing not to be named.
Selfiesh interests
Opposition leader in the BMC, Devendra Amberkar, slammed the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP combine saying corporators of the ruling parties are eyeing assembly polls. "The mayor decides which proposal is to be discussed during the group leaders' meeting. However, the mayor (Sunil Prabhu) is not bothered about the city getting defaced. This because he is interested in contesting assembly polls and is worried about his particular constituency only," Amberkar said, insisting on putting the policy in place on urgently.
On asked, Prabhu refuted the allegations and said the policy could not be cleared in view of changes suggested by group leaders. "We will discuss it soon," Prabhu said. Add to this, the Shiv Sena corporator said the BMC will take care that banners won't deface the city during festival period of Ganeshotsav and Navratri. "The permission will be granted as per norms laid down last year," he added.
According to the civic official, the corporators will have to take decision on the policy before the code of conduct sets in. "The code of conduct is likely to set in since August 21. Whatever decision, therefore, has to be taken before the code of conduct comes into effect," he added.
What the policy says
* Political banners with wishes on birthdays, appointment of office-bearers, festivals etc will be completely banned
* In case of a political event has been organised, only two banners of maximum 10 ft by 10 ft size will be allowed to be erected at the venue a day before and after the programme's scheduled date. The rates charged will be commercial
* Similar norms will be applied to programmes of commercial outfits
* Advertisements by commercial units will be completely banned at public places
* The advertisers will have to give three times the monthly charge as deposit for erecting banners. Failure to remove banners will mean loss of deposit refund
Consession during Ganeshotsav, Navartrotsav
* Banners will be allowed from 100 metres of the main stage
* Archs at the main entrance can only display messages welcoming devotees. On left and right hand side, advertisements of sponsors can be displayed
* Advertisements promoting vulgarity and tobacco consumption will be banned
* Political activists or leaders can't erect banners wishing devotees
* It will be must for mandals to erect banners giving social messages only
Violation attracts punishment
As per section 3 of Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995, a person defacing properties can be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or both
Besides, as per section 328 and 328 (A) of MMC Act, 1888, the corporation can fine individuals defacing city slapping fines ranging between Rs 500 to Rs 5000, depending upon extent of offence
Activists speak
Even as the BMC delays the decision on the policy, activists feel the corporation must introduce stricter norms to punish the perpetrators who deface city. "All what we hear is that the BMC has removed banners, but the corporation prosecuting guilty ones is unheard of. Besides prosecuting, the civic body should ensure the perpetrators are inflicted with hefty fines. Normally politicos whose images appear on banners get away saying that the posters must have been raised by his followers. So, the fines BMC will inflict should be such that the ones who erect the banners should name the persons at whose behest he/she has erected banners," Anil Joseph, Bandra-based civic activist, said.
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