BMC commissioner to conduct physical survey of hoardings

Mumbai, Jan 31 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today came down heavily on the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), saying that ''we understand hoardings are source of income for the Corporation, but you don't have to make a mess to earn money''.

A division bench comprising Chief justice Swatanter Kumar and justice J P Devdhar cited an example of Chandigarh, where the local body records maximum earnings in the state, without allowing hoardings.

Unsatisfied with the approach of the BMC towards numerous hoardings in the city, flouting CRZ norms and traffic regulations, the court also directed the BMC Commissioner to form a Committee of high officials of the Corporation, under his chairmanship, and conduct physical survey of all hoardings in the city.

The Committee has been directed to specifically visit places of Heritage importance and heavy traffic and find out as to how many hoardings were in consonance with the new guidelines adopted by the Corporation, just a fortnight before.

The court has also asked the BMC Commissioner to explain as to how Madhuri Advertisers were allowed to erect a hoarding in sea water at Worli and under which provisions of law does sea water falls within their jurisdiction.

In this context, the court gave six weeks time to the BMC when the matter will come up for further hearing.

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