Pune: Four illegal hoardings were removed on Tuesday as part of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)’s special drive against such unauthorised facades with five squads for active execution.PMC’s sky sign department head Madhav Jagtap said the administration would find details of illegal hoardings using Google Maps and other software. “A fee with retrospective effect and demolition charges of Rs2 lakh will be recovered from those at fault.” Residents welcomed the move and demanded constant monitoring.PMC officials conducted the survey in Hadapsar and 30 hoardings were inspected. Last year, the commissioner’s office had issued directives to hold such a check after suspicious data was provided by ward offices. In June 2025, officials from 15 ward offices had reported that the neighbourhood had only 24 illegal hoardings.Additionally, the civic administration has reached out to private parties to conduct inspections.According to civic data, there are 2,640 official hoardings within PMC limits. Such advertising material is termed illegal if installed without permission, irrespective of structural audits. Renewal of licence is possible only after such audits which were avoided by many.Kothrud resident AS Dixit said, “Illegal hoardings can be seen in old city as well as newly merged areas. It leads to a loss of revenue and increases the threat of accidents.”In another development, the administration has planned action against contractors illegally dumping rubbish near the riverside and ordered a probe. Officials said the action was initiated after photos of the heaps were widely circulated on social media. Waste was seen dumped near PMC headquarters in Shivajinagar, near Amruteshwar Ghat and beside the Jayantrao Tilak Bridge.A few days ago, the municipal commissioner had ordered punitive action and filing of criminal cases against those throwing debris in the riverbed or public places. This was happening despite the corporation setting up a processing plant in Wagholi and providing transport facilities to take the debris there.“The administration will get the trash cleared. We have told the deputy municipal commissioner of solid waste management to get to the source of such activity and act against the contractor concerned,” said PMC additional commissioner Pavneet Kaur.
