Nagpur-based organization Parivartan The Citizens Forum has appealed to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and city police to remove all illegally erected hoardings, banners, posters, and welcome gates in the city. The forum also demanded strict legal action against individuals and organizations responsible for defacing the city.
During the ongoing Winter Session, unauthorized installations, particularly at traffic signals and along roadsides, have flooded the city. “These unauthorized hoardings obstruct commuters’ views, creating significant safety hazards,” said Dinesh Naidu, Secretary of Parivartan The Citizens Forum, while speaking to The Hitavada.
In a formal application to the Commissioner of Police and Municipal Commissioner, the forum cited an order by the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, which declared the erection of temporary hoardings, banners, posters, and welcome gates without proper permission as illegal. According to the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1995, enforcing agencies are required to file FIRs against offenders.
Naidu also pointed out commitments made by former Nagpur City Police Commissioners in affidavits to the High Court, promising to curb this menace and take immediate legal action, including lodging FIRs.
The forum’s letter called for the police to honor these commitments and act in compliance with the court’s directives by promptly removing illegal installations. “Such unauthorized hoardings also spark disputes over prime spaces, fueling unnecessary conflicts among political groups. Taking immediate action will not only uphold the law but also restore visual order and harmony in the city,” added Naidu.