Pimpri-Chinchwad civic body to act against illegal billboards

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has warned of filing criminal cases against the owners of illegal hoardings, if they are not removed voluntarily.

PCMC additional commissioner, Prakash Kadam, in a press release stated that certain flexes and hoardings were creating traffic problems.

“Under the drive started by the civic administration from Monday, nearly 200 flexes were removed from various parts of the city. As the civic polls are approaching, political leaders are trying to woo voters through these. They are using electricity poles, trees, walls, traffic junctions, buildings and flyovers,” he said.

PCMC commissioner, Ashish Sharma, had directed the anti-encroachment department to remove unauthorised flex boards from A, B, C and D zones.

To avoid the flex menace, Right to Information Forum (RIF) had appealed to the PCMC to put up details like duration dates, licence numbers and names of the licence owners on all billboards, cutouts, banners and flexes, before giving permission.

Under section 13 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, it is mandatory for the civic body to mention these details on hoardings, banners and flexes, while granting permission to any company, institution or person.