BMC wants commercial rates for political space
To treat all political hoardings as commercial advertisements and restrict them to authorised sites; wants to curb tendency to deface public places ……..GEETA DESAI
When Shiv Sainiks plastered the brand new skywalk at Bandra with posters wishing party executive president Uddhav Thackeray on his birthday on July 27, it apparently did not go down well with their leader.
That’s because he is in the process of seeking a consensus among various parties to introduce a rule that will force each one to buy space for posters and banners.
The aim is to keep the city clean and improve its appearance.
In fact, the Shiv Sena-led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) proposes to frame rules banning political parties from pasting posters indiscriminately across the city. Apart from defacing the city, these banners also lead to clashes among rival groups on the use of prime spots.
The civic body is considering treating all political hoardings as commercial advertisements and restricting them to authorised sites. It plans to take political parties into confidence and seek help from the police to implement the rule.
Mayor Dr Shubha Raul says, “Political hoardings deface almost every street. Even signals are not spared. Hoardings wishing leaders on birthdays and festivals are not removed even days after the event.
“Eventually, it is BMC staff who has to remove them.
“Our city is the financial capital and we need to make it look better. I will be writing to all political parties seeking their co-operation.
“When cities like Nagpur and Nashik can do it, why can’t we?”
Apparently, Uddhav has restrained Sena corporators from putting up posters, banners and hoardings indiscriminately.
He’s told them that if banners or hoardings have to be put up, they should be of minimum size and made with eco-friendly material. He expects to see the effects of his diktat during the Ganpati festivities.
Civic groups and social activists have, naturally, welcomed the initiative.
“It is a great idea. There already exist guidelines for political hoardings and cutouts,” says Dr Anahita Pundole, who had filed a public interest litigation against commercial hoardings in the city.
“But even though most hoardings are displayed without proper permissions, they are not pulled down even if citizens complain to the BMC.
“Hope things will change now.”
The proposal apparently enjoys the blessings of Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray who is against posters defacing public places, such as this one on the recently inaugurated skywalk at Bandra (E)