Activists gun for action against illegal billboards in Pune

Civic activists Vijay Kumbhar and Sandip Khardekar have demanded that municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade should explain what action has been taken against illegal hoardings in the city.

In a statement, they said a meeting was organised by Zagade on June 25 on problems of illegal hoardings, advertisements on public transport buses and other places.

He had directed to act against this problem. But even after five months no action has been taken.

They demanded that the municipal commissioner explain why no action has been taken. They also demanded that action be taken against the officials concerned who have not followed orders.

Zagade had said in the meeting that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has given permission to put up hoardings only at 1,605 sites. Hence, notices should be issued to owners of other hoardings and the hoardings removed immediately.

Zagade had demanded information about hoardings on the premises of state and central government offices and railways, on properties owned by public works, revenue, water resources and other state government departments.

The PMC had permitted advertisements on sodium vapour lamps’ masts at 1,900 places in 2001. The time limit for them expired in 2005. It was pointed out that professionals were using the advertising space in an unauthorised manner.