In a major move against illegal hoardings and banners mushrooming at almost every square, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation during its two day special drive has removed over 300 hoardings across city.
During the drive, the 46 banners and 11 hoardings were removed from Dharampeth zone, two hoardings and four banners from Dhantoli zone, 8 hoardings from Nehru Nagar zone, 77 banners from Gandhibagh zone, four from Lakadganj zone, seven hoardings from Mangalwari zone and 135 banners and 16 hoardings from Asi Nagar zone.
Additional deputy municipal commissioner Ajay Ramteke said, "NMC has asked all zonal officers to act. The drive will not stop. The zonal officers have been asked to send the show cause notices to people who had put up political hoardings and banners. The banners of parties and leaders who submitted approval letter of district collector were spared."
With model code of conduct in force in city for state assembly elections, it has now become mandatory for the all political parties to show legality of advertisements, hoardings etc and seek permission from district collector's office.
Ramteke said the civic body did not act during festival season because of emotional involvement of particular communities. Now that Ganesh festival is over, the drive was launched. Hel also said people wanting to erect a hoarding should take prior permission from NMC zonal offices. The civic body is also planning to set up 10 special anti-encroachment squads (one in each zone).