Illegal banners in Navi Mumbai draw flak from residents

Navi Mumbai: Navi Mumbai has witnessed a proliferation of allegedly illegal political banners and hoardings ahead of the Navratri festival, with residents accusing civic authorities of failing to enforce court directives against defacement of public places time and again and in the face of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan as the city is vying to regain its super cleanliness status in the country.

Large banners of politicians have appeared at junctions and along roads across the city, allegedly without mandatory permission from civic agencies and traffic police.

Residents claimed officials were reluctant to act against politically influential offenders while strictly enforcing restrictions against ordinary citizens.

An alert citizen said the city had remained free of illegal banners only during the elections because of the model code of conduct, but politicians had reappeared as the festival season approached.

He said that the case was very similar during the Ganesh festival as well and the authorities failed to initiate action in clearing the defacement.