By- BB NayakNAVI MUMBAI: Political posters are increasingly cluttering the city’s landscape, undermining the cleanliness initiatives of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) ahead of the upcoming civic polls. Despite court orders prohibiting defacement of public spaces, authorities failed to enforce these regulations against violators. After the Ganeshotsav, the civic body removed illegal banners following complaints from citizens. However, new posters have since appeared on city walls.Residents allege that this menace has damaged the freshly coated paintwork done by the NMMC in its attempt to compete in the nationwide cleanliness drive. “The purpose of painting the city has been demolished since political posters have found space on public spaces,” said activist Dhananjay Suvarna. A resident, Ganesh Aaghav, said, “A similar scene was witnessed during the last Parliament and Assembly polls as political posters were pasted on city landscapes. The posters covered the painting and artwork done by the civic body in a run-up to the cleanliness competition. Though Navi Mumbai was placed among the top three cleanliness cities in the country, illegal political posters have found a safe place, destroying the city landscape.”NMMC sources stated that action will be taken to clear the defacement. Residents allege that the lack of deterrent action on the ground has only encouraged politicians to deface the city landscape. Questions are being raised about the cleanliness awards the city has been gaining for years when such issues arise frequently. “The mushrooming of illegal banners and hoardings has been a cause of concern for a planned city like Navi Mumbai. Authorities have no guts to bring the perpetrators to book,” said activist Madhu Shankar, adding that officials are doing little to stop such practices.Residents also allege that either the civic officials are taken for granted or are scared to take action against the ‘high profile’ offenders with political clout. “During the elections, the city looks clean and clear of illegal banners, simply due to the imposition of a model code of conduct. Once the results are out, netas cutting across the political spectrum come into action mode to paint the city ugly with posters, banners, and hoardings, which lead to a huge loss in the civic treasury,” said resident Supriyo Sen.
