Hoardings haunt BPP

Several branches of the trees obstructing the view of the twin hoardings at Doongerwadi were surreptitiously cut and fastened by ropes to other branches in the hope of camouflaging the transgression.

But the perpetrators had not allowed for the watchful eyes of gynecologist and environment activist Dr Anahita Pandole who raised the issue in the Press and sent legal notices to the Bombay Municipal Corporation, the municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak, the garden superintendent and tree officer V. H. Dande, the superintendent of licenses B. S. Gholap, the trustees and chief executive officer of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) and Lewis Advertisers.

Pandole’s attorneys, Federal and Rashmikant, called on the trustees to "forthwith revoke and cancel the said purported licence of all permissions granted for the said hoardings and to forthwith remove the said hoardings and their structure.”

Noting that the assurance given by Lewis Advertisers to the court on June 20, 2007 "that no trees will be damaged and/or cut or removed in any form whatsoever till the next date” of hearing had been violated, the notice alleged, "the cutting/hacking of the trees is not only in gross contempt… but is also in breach and violation of the law.”

The BPP has reportedly terminated the controversial contract for a double billboard at Doongerwadi as well as for the security agency at the grounds. This drastic action follows the hacking of branches obstructing the display of the lower hoarding in the third week of February.

The BPP CEO Mehli P. Colah in a letter addressed to the Jam-e-Jamshed Weekly noted the trust had filed a police complaint with "the Malabar Hill Police station on February 20, 2008 as soon as it was brought to our notice by Pandole on February 19, 2008.

"We have given a show cause notice to the hoarding advertiser, M/s Lewis Advertisers, seeking his explanation, within seven days as to why his contract should not be cancelled for breach of terms of licence agreement. Moreover, we have also issued a memo to our security agency, M/s ZEST Facility Securities Private Limited, asking for explanation for lapse in security.”

Terming the responses received as unacceptable, the BPP terminated both contracts. Lewis Advertisers has reportedly moved the courts. A hearing on the various petitions was due to be held on March 13, 2008 at the Bombay High Court.

But for once, it does appear that in the never ending battle between nature and commerce in this case, greenery will triumph.