Hoarding licence goof-up costs BMC dear

MUMBAI: A note prepared by the municipal chief auditors department revealed that licence inspectors from G-north (Shivaji Park) and F-north (Sion, Matunga) have accepted cheques for renewal of licence for hoardings for 2010-11, but the cheques remained with the licence department without remittance in the municipal treasury.
According to norms, when the licence to put up a hoarding expires, the hoarding owner has to pay advertising fee to the senior inspector of the licence department for renewal. "The officials renewed the licences, but didn't deposit the money with the BMC. Hence, the cheques got lapsed," said Sandeep Deshpande, MNS corporator, adding that the BMC was losing about Rs 350 crore as revenue due to the negligence of civic officials.

Additional municipal commissioner Mohan Adtani has ordered an inquiry in the matter.