India, Feb. 18 -- Controversy over the proposed installation of 35 LED hoardings along the Carter Road promenade in Bandra west has turned into a blame game between the maritime authorities and the civic administration, after local residents dug in their heels against the plan.

A day after state ports development minister Nitesh Rane categorically said that the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) had not issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the hoardings, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) claimed it had issued a licence only after receiving an NOC from the board.

The MMB, the owner of the sea-side promenade, has since issued a stop-work notice to Star Electric, the agency installing LED hoardings. The BMC hit back, saying...