State government issues new guidelines for hoardings

MUMBAI: The urban development department of the Maharashtra government has framed draft rules seeking to check rampant tree cutting and defacing of historic and other buildings in Mumbai to erect hoardings. It will now be the responsibility of advertising agencies to protect trees upto a distance of 25 metres on either side of the hoarding. The agency concerned will have to deposit Rs 2,500 per existing tree with the municipal corporation.Citizens have been asked to send their suggestions and objections to the draft rules which have been issued following a public outcry over vandalising public spaces and trees. The issue was brought to the fore last year by Dr Anahita Pandole, a city gynaecologist, with a public interest litigation in the Mumbai high court. When contacted on Monday, Dr Pandole said she was not aware of the rules though she was following the case. However, a reading of the rules by this paper shows that the penalty for violation of the rules is not harsh enough -the maximum fine is of Rs 500. Moreover, the municipal commisioner may, in his discretion and by order in writing, regularise the isntallation of unauthorised hoarding by charging a compounding fee not exceeding five times the chargeable fee, the rules say. The rules prohibit hoardings which obstruct the view of the sea, sunrise or sunset. Hoardings would also not be permitted on buildings of historical importance or inside mangroves, creeks or sea or within 500 metres of the high tide line. Aglencies, which have been permitted to erect hoardings prior to coming into force of the new rules, will have the option to replace tall trees upto a distance of 25 meteters on either side of the hoarding by such species as may be approved by the superintendent of guardens of the corporation and deposit with the BMC Rs 500 per tree to have it replanted by the superintendent. Several big companies and advertisement agencies have in the past flouted BMC guidelines on hoardings and defaced several buildings and cut trees. While no hoardings are to be allowed on footpaths, it is proposed to permit advertisements on guard rails or metal bars fixed on the road.