PUNE: The civic body is yet to initiate action against any agencies putting up illegal advertisement banners on light poles, over a month after announcing strict legal action against them.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) authorities tried to explain the inaction stating that their effort was focused on warnings and persuasion, besides removal of illegal banners by their own squads. They claimed that the legal action was aimed at the repeat offenders.
“The civic administration has issued warning to the ad agencies and the advertisers putting up the illegal banners. If they continue to advertise on poles, we shall file criminal offences against them,” said Shriniwas Kandul, head of PMC’s electrical department.
Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch said, “The civic body should stop lip service and take strict action against people defacing the city. The rules and policies for the same are in place. But they are not implemented.”
Apart from being an eyesore, the illegal advertising banners block traffic view at several points, posing a serious accident hazard. The Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act, 1995, provides for punitive action against those defacing the public property. PMC had planned to initiate cases under this act.
According to officials, the civic body is losing out on revenue because of the advertisers putting up illegal hoardings across areas.
