Act tough against illegal hoardings: Ajit Pawar

DNA; Archana Dahiwal; Tuesday, November 30, 2010,

The deputy chief minister, Ajit Pawar, expressed his displeasure over the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s (PCMC) action against unauthorised flexes, banners and hoardings.

During his visit to the twin towns on Saturday, he said the civic body was not following the proper method in initiating action against offenders. The PCMC commissioner, Ashish Sharma, told Pawar that the administration has begun crack down on illegal flexes, banners and hoardings with the police assistance.

The civic officials told the minister that the PCMC and the city police began its campaign against illegal hoardings on November 19. Besides filing a police case against offenders, Rs3,000 is also collected from those found responsible for putting up these flexes Rs500 as fine and Rs2,500 for removing the hoarding.

Pawar asked how can the civic authorities and police officials find out who has put up the hoardings. “Anyone can misuse other person’s name and put hoardings in the latter’s name,” he said.

The Nationalist Congress Party leader told the civic administration to take concrete steps to tackle this issue.

Speaking to DNA, PCMC additional commissioner, Prakash Kadam, said the civic administration will soon hold a meeting on illegal hoardings.

The president of Right to Information (RTI) Forum of Senior Citizens for Instant Information, Maharashtra State, Pune, Shriram Pande, had last year requested the PCMC to mention duration date, licence number, name of the licence owner on all hoardings, banners and flexes, while giving permission.

Pande said according to the Right to Information Act (13), it is mandatory for civic bodies to mention these details while granting permission to any company, institution or person. He said the PCMC was violating the rule. despite repeated requests.