Despite clear instructions of the Bombay high court to curb the menace of illegal banners and hoardings, thousands of them have cropped up in the city with the onset of the Ganesh festival while the TMC seems to be turning a blind eye.
Life-size cut-outs of politicians have also popped up.
Citizens, however, have given a thumbs down to the visual pollution and claimed that the politicians are just wasting money.
Vishal Kharpude, a citizen said, “A few days back, the number of dahi handi organisers wasted thousands of litres of water and now they spending mon ey putting up banners rather than helping the drought-hit farmers.”
Vaibhav Shinde, a software engineer said, “Putting up banners is a sheer waste of money, instead politicians should do something constructive which can win them a place in the heart of citizens rather than flouting court orders.”
Meanwhile, the TMC has claimed that they have been directed by the civic chief to show no mercy on those violating the norms. Officials said they will take penal action against those who have put up the banners without valid permits. The high court had taken cognizance on a PIL in 2014 and had ordered civic corporations to take action against those putting up illegal banners in their respective areas.
“I am yet to get details of the number of posters and banners that have been put up after taking adequate permissions and paying the required amount. We are going to take action against those banners and posters that have been put up illegally within the city areas.
The commissioner has instructed us to identify such violators and file cases against them at the respective police stations,” said Ashok Burpulle, in-charge of the anti-encroachment department.