CM Shinde orders removal of illegal hoardings in Mumbai, other parts of Maharashtra

Vehicles that were crushed under the weight of the gigantic billboard that collapsed on a petrol pump last week. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Friday that he has directed authorities to remove unlawful hoardings in Mumbai and around the state. He also advocated for charges to be filed against individuals responsible for such hazards.

Shinde, speaking at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters after evaluating monsoon readiness, highlighted the importance of conducting a structural examination of all hoardings, including those constructed legally, reported PTI.

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According to the report, addressing the recent Ghatkopar hoarding collapse, which killed 17 people due to strong winds and unseasonal rainfall on May 13, Shinde underlined his directive to destroy unlawful and large hoardings and file FIRs against those guilty.

"To avoid a loss of lives and recurrence of such tragedy, necessary instructions have been issued," he said.

Shinde also directed the BMC to entirely remove silt from nullahs, down to the hard-rock bottom, and to dispose of it somewhere rather than on the banks. The PTI report added that he guaranteed that the nullah cleansing work would be underway quickly.

"There will be cleaning of nullahs and the work is going on on war footings," the chief minister said.

In response to complaints about water logging caused by numerous projects, Shinde cautioned that if the responsible authorities were proven to be at fault, action would be taken. He emphasised a "zero casualty mission" for the monsoon season, calling all agencies to work together to avoid loss of life, the PTI report stated.

"If all the agencies work like a team, there won't be any loss of lives," the chief minister said.