Pune: PCMC’s Drive Against Illegal Hoardings Gains Momentum, 5 Hoardings Demolished
Pimpri Chinchwad, 21st May 2024: The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) initiated a crackdown on illegal hoardings within its jurisdiction on Monday, removing five such hoardings on the Pune-Nashik highway. This action comes in the wake of the recent hoarding collapse in Ghatkopar that resulted in the death of 16 people.
A survey conducted by civic officials between May 16 and May 19 identified 24 illegal hoardings across the city, along with 321 hoardings that exceeded the size permitted by the municipal corporation’s license.
“Our teams have begun removing illegal hoardings on the Pune-Nashik highway, and five such hoardings have already been taken down. This operation will continue until all illegal hoardings in Pimpri Chinchwad are removed,” stated Sandip Khot, Deputy Municipal Commissioner of PCMC.
Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh emphasized the importance of compliance: “Hoarding owners must renew their licenses before May 31. Any hoarding not renewed by the deadline will be deemed illegal and will be demolished.”
Previously, civic officials warned that owners of illegal hoardings and the land on which they were erected would face legal action if they failed to remove the structures by Monday.
A senior PCMC officer indicated that plans are in place to pursue legal action against the owners of illegal hoardings, landowners, and advertisers under stringent legal provisions.
Currently, Pimpri Chinchwad has a total of 1,136 authorized hoardings, with applications for the registration of an additional 15 structures pending with the civic body. Over the past year, the corporation has removed 191 hoardings following the Kiwale hoarding collapse incident, which resulted in the deaths of five people.
