Day after Pawar fire,civic body ‘burns’ 844 banners,flex boards

The city has been facing a problem of flex boards and banners springing up in every nook and corner,a trend that has been increasing over the last few years. Almost every political activist has been trying to gain publicity through such banners whenever a reason presented itself,be it birthdays,festivals or achievements. Even flex boards carrying condolence messages have been seen.

To prevent illegal outdoor advertising from spoiling the skyline and often putting commuters in danger,the PMC has framed a policy to regulate billboards and hoardings,but civic activists complain that its implementation by the civic administration has not been very strict.

7 complaints registered for flex boards wishing gangster Marne on birthday

The Pune police have lodged seven offences in connection with illegal flex boards put up in different parts of the city wishing Gajanan Marne,a known gangster,on his birthday on Tuesday. Incidentally,Marne’s wife Jayshree Marne is an MNS corporator from Kothrud area.

The offences have been registered at Kothrud,Bibvewadi,Swargate,Dattawadi and Sahkarnagar police stations. Earlier,Pune police commissioner Gulabrao Pol had ordered action against those who put up illegal flex boards. The persons and groups involved in putting up these boards have been booked under the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act,1995,and section 447 of the Indian Penal Code. Rupesh Marne,Balasaheb Vichare,Vinayak alias Bala Marne and members of the Swayamraj Group and Kailas Mitra Mandal were booked for encroachment of PMC area by putting up flex boards at different spots in Kothrud,and endangering the public. Amrut Marne of Shraddha Suppliers and Ceramics was booked by Bibvewadi police. Ram Kamble,Hanumant Garkhe,Deepak Kamble,Nitin Chavan,Deepak Shendge,Pradeep alias Mallu Kamble,Sameer Shaikh,Feroz Shaikh and Pappu Bansode and members of Matter King group were booked by Swargate police. The Dattawadi police booked Vishal Dhumal and Atul Laxman Kudle,while Riyaz Shaikh Pinjari,Sanjay Aba More and members of Shriram Pratishthan were booked by Sahkarnagar police.