Consumer body issues notice to corpn

Coimbatore: Almost two months after electronic display boards set up at multiple places in the city started functioning, a city-based consumer body on Monday issued contempt notice to the city corporation, saying that the boards would distract motorists and are in violation of the Indian Road Congress (IRC) norms and the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Licensing of Hoardings and Levy and Collection of Advertisement Tax Rules, 2003.
“While the IRC norms clearly direct not to erect illuminating advertisements along roads, the act has prohibited giving permission to establish digital advertisement boards on private buildings. But, violating the norms, the boards were erected at several junctions including Chinthamani Junction,” K Kathirmathiyon of Coimbatore Consumer Cause said.

“The collector, who is the competent authority to give permission for exhibiting any sort of advertisements, has not given permission to establish the boards,” he said, citing an RTI reply.

The city corporation in August had submitted a proposal seeking permission to establish electronic display boards at 30 locations under the smart city project. The boards have started functioning at major junctions including the town bus stand, near the corporation office at Town Hall, near the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, Uppilipalayam Junction and Selvapuram.

“Without waiting for the nod, the corporation selected a contractor and signed an agreement to install and maintain the boards at 30 places for 15 years. Even the collector does not have the power to give licence for such a long period. How did the corporation do it? The agreement is illegal,” Kathirmathiyon said.

The collector could issue licence for three years.