Residents oppose illegal hoardings in Malabar Hill
MUMBAI: With Varsha bungalow, the official residence of the Maharashtra chief minister and Sahyadri Guest House a stone’s throw away, complaints regarding illegal political hoardings and banners have reached its crescendo as Malabar Hill residents are opposing the issue like never before.
The residents’ complaints coincided with the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) against unauthorised political hoardings in the Bombay High Court, filed by multiple parties. While the hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, it was postponed for a later day. One of the petitioners is Dr Aniruddha Malpani, who said, “My PIL was regarding the BMC’S lack of accountability over these hoardings, which restricts action against those responsible. What I’ve suggested is using the same framework that penalises illegally parked vehicles, for illegal hoardings, and the respective political parties be held responsible and fined.”
Several Malabar Hill residents say that illegal hoardings are a hazard, as when they’re stuck on lamp posts, they partially jut out on footpaths and roads, coming especially in the way of walkers. When they fall, and they do often, they cause obstructions on the road. Dr Malpani continued, “Citizens should have a platform to upload photos of the illegal hoardings, and the party should be fined centrally if they don’t contest the claim within 15 days. A hefty fine starting at ₹50,000 will be the only detractor. There already is a law in place against them.”
He said he was upset that the combined PILS on illegal hoardings weren’t heard and the judicial system works this way.
Another concerned resident Khorshed Bharucha lamented, “The issue has increased acutely since the new government came to power in the state. Today, due to home minister Amit Shah’s visit, there are hoardings and posters with his face at every 10 metres. Before this, it was another batch of hoardings, and so on and so forth. The new hoardings just join the old ones.”
Residents also worry that illegal hoardings not only make the area look aesthetically poor but it blocks their view. “The hoardings have gotten especially obnoxious, with four identical hoardings being put up side by side,” said a resident.
“Our area used to be one of the pleasant areas to live in,” said Bharucha. “But now it’s entirely degraded.” Resident, Gita Bhatia also complained in the past on the 1916 helpline of the BMC, to no avail. An official from the licence department of the D ward, which consists of Tardeo, Malabar Hills, said the ward takes routine action against the hoardings and takes them down.