Hoarding crashed before GRP could act against firm for 'harming' trees: Official

The officials of the Government Railway Police GRP on Tuesday said that the Ghatkopar hoarding collapsed even before it could take action against the advertising agency over a complaint that it damaged trees to erect it reported the PTIThe billboard was reportedly installed on its landAtleast 14 persons died and 75 others were injured after the 120 x 120feet hoarding collapsed on a petrol pump in Chheda Nagar area on Monday evening due to gusty winds and unseasonal rainsThe civic officials have said the hoarding was illegal and no permission was taken to install itA case has been registered against Bhavesh Bhinde the owner of Ms Ego Media Private Limited the advertising agency that installed the hoarding and others for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code at Pant Nagar police stationThe GRP said the BMC had last week issued a letter against the advertising company Ms Ego Media Private Limited for complaint of damaging the roadside trees for installing hoardingsAfter receiving the letter from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC the GRP initiated the proceedings against the advertising company But before any action could be taken against it the tragic incident took place the official said in a statement as per the PTIMeanwhile the statement issued by the Assistant Commissioner of Police Admin of Railway Police said the permission to erect hoardings near the petrol pump on the police land was given to Ms Ego Media Private Limited for a period of 10 years in December 2021 with the approval of the then GRP Commissioner Qaiser KhalidThe petrol pump of the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited BPCL was being operated by the Government Railway Police Commissioners Welfare Fund Organisation with the prior permission of the Director General of Police GRP since December 10 2021 it addedWill act against all illegal hoardings in Mumbai BMCA day after the collapse of an illegal hoarding claimed 14 lives in Ghatkopar hoarding collapse the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC on Tuesday said that it would take action against all hoardings erected without its permission reported the PTINo action was taken in the past against the giant hoarding that crashed on a petrol pump in Chheda Nagar area on Monday evening as a dispute was going on between the BMC and Government Railway Police GRP an official said as per the PTIThe drive will start with the removal of the remaining three hoardings on the GRP land in Ghatkopar said municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani on Tuesday after visiting the site where rescue operation is underway according to the PTIwith PTI inputs