Corp removes 6,502 boards, hoardings

Thiruvananthapuram: With the deadline set by high court for removal of unauthorized advertisements on roads and streets ending on Tuesday, the city corporation removed 6,502 unauthorized boards and hoardings and collected a fine of Rs 4.39 lakh as penalty from violators as on Monday.
High court had directed that all unauthorized boards, banners and hoardings shall be removed by October 30 and directors of urban affairs and panchayat departments were asked to submit a report.

Local self-government (LSG) department issued a circular following the HC directive and held field staff and secretaries of local bodies concerned accountable if they failed to remove unauthorized boards, banners and hoardings by October 30. Besides, it was also directed to levy fine and advertisement tax from responsible officials and disciplinary action would also be taken against officials who failed to comply with HC directive.

The revenue wing of city corporation has had a hectic month as special squads were deployed to crack down on unauthorized advertisements. The revenue wing also had to work on Sunday as agency personnel queued up to regularize ad hoardings after the drive began. The corporation is planning to recycle flex boards which had piled up following the clean-up drive.

The revenue wing has been removing hoardings and flex boards since October 12 and by Monday, the officials have been able to clear most stretches of ad hoardings and flex boards.

The civic body has also decided to comply with LSG directive to levy a nominal amount from political parties for erecting flex boards and hoardings. The rate shall be fixed at 50% of the actual licence fee which is being collected from other agencies.

LSG department had earlier issued a circular laying down guidelines to be followed in regulating advertisement hoardings. It was directed that those who erect boards and hoardings shall be responsible for their removal within seven days after the function was over or else local body may remove them at the expense of the agency.

Local body secretaries are empowered by section 275 of Kerala Municipality Act to remove unauthorized advertisement boards. The applicants will also have to furnish a copy of the content of the ad being displayed on hoarding while submitting application for permit. Any kind of provocative or gory images or those inciting communal sentiments will not be entertained.

LSG department has directed that hoardings shall not be placed on footpaths, on either side of footpaths, curves, bridges or across roads blocking the vehicular movement. The hoardings shall not cause any trouble for pedestrians and passengers and they shall be placed in spots which do not cause any distraction for motorists, the order said.