Kalina residents are upset with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) authorities for not taking any action against those who defaced the entire area with banners wishing happy birthday to a political leader. Angry locals alleged the banners were removed only after they served their purpose.
Hundreds of posters and banners, wishing 'Happy Birthday' to Congress leader Kripashankar Singh mushroomed in the area last week. "Despite our repeated complaints where the banners were installed, the BMC officers removed them only on August 1, a day after the leader's birthday. They were all over the place for the past four days," said Clarence Pinto, a resident of Kalina.
Despite repeated attempts, Alka Sasane, assistant municipal commissioner of H/East ward in whose jurisdiction the issue stands was not available for comment.
Pinto added that as per the Bombay High Court order, nobody is allowed to install banners without seeking proper permission from the civic authorities. Worse still, the banners were made of flexiboard, a material which the BMC has banned. Angry locals alleged that the BMC officials had not even bothered to file an FIR. "The BMC and police do not do anything and only keep exchanging letters among themselves instead of taking concrete action against those responsible behind this menace," said Pinto.
When contacted, Kripashankar Singh said, "What will I do if there was no action taken. The BMC should have acted. There is a court order. I have never done this thing of putting up an illegal banner. I have never even asked anyone to put up a banner."
UNWANTED WISHES
- Hundreds of posters and banners, wishing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Congress leader Kripashankar Singh mushroomed in the area last week
- Residents say despite repeated complaints where the banners were installed, the BMC officers removed them only on August 1, a day after the leader’s birthday
