THANE: As many as 3,891 hoardings, banners, and posters installed illegally within the Thane city limits were pulled down by the Thane Municipal Corporation area last December, and 76 cases were registered against the offenders, officials informed.
The action came weeks after the Thane Municipal Corporation was reprimanded by the Bombay High Court for its apparent inaction towards the issue of proliferating unauthorised hoardings. Activist and MNS Thane functionary Sandeep Pachange filed a petition before the HC questioning the action taken by the Thane municipal administration on the issue.
Deputy municipal commissioner, anti-encroachment, Shankar Patole informed that the highest number of illegal banners—762—were removed from the Naupada-Kopri ward, followed by Mumbra at 456 and Vartak Nagar at 453. The highest number of cases against those putting up these illegal billboards was at Kalwa, with 18 cases filed, followed by Mumbra at 15.
“The High Court has passed strict orders on the issue, and we are complying with that. I have instructed my teams to take immediate action against such illegalities and issue notices and file cases if required,” said Civic Commissioner Saurabh Rao.
It may be noted that hoardings, banners, and posters installed illegally not only disfigure the cityscape but also amount to losses for the municipal administration. The civic advertisement department has identified places for installing hoardings within the city limits after paying the relevant fees.
