Even as the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court continues its strict crackdown on illegal hoardings in Nagpur, authorities themselves appear to be ignoring the court’s orders. Several unauthorised hoardings have been put up on the double-decker Wardha Road flyover by the Zilla Parishad (ZP) Nagpur to promote an exhibition, with some banners loosely tied which now dangle the busy road posing a potential danger to the commuters. The hoardings have been installed on electric poles along the double-decker flyover on Wardha Road to publicise the State-level Mahalaxmi Saras Exhibition.

 

 

The exhibition, underway at Reshimbagh ground till March 23, is organised in association with the District Rural Development Department and Zilla Parishad Nagpur. To promote the event, large hoardings and banners carrying information about the exhibition and photographs of ministers, Zilla Parishad officials, including the CEO, and other prominent personalities have been placed on almost every electric pole on the flyover. However, many of the hoardings appear to be made of substandard material and tied loosely with ropes and wires. Due to this, some of the hoardings have already fallen on the flyover road while several others are dangling dangerously. Motorists using the busy Wardha Road flyover are facing danger that the hoardings could fall at any time and cause accidents. Installation of these hoardings is seen as a violation of earlier directions issued by the High Court.

 

The court had directed the Nagpur Municipal Corporation to remove illegal hoardings from the city and issue notices proposing a fine of Rs5 lakh against violators. The hoardings have reportedly been installed on the bridge for the last three days, but no action has been taken by the civic authorities, so far. Earlier, while hearing a contempt petition filed by NGO Parivartan Secretary Dinesh Naidu, a division bench of Justice Anil S Kilor and Justice Raj D Wakode had widened the scope of the case and ordered an inquiry into illegal hoardings across all 11 districts of Vidarbha. The court has also appointed district-wise Commissioners to submit ground reports and directed authorities to strictly enforce rules against unauthorised hoardings.