BJP wants ad hoardings to go, Cong fights against ban

Bengaluru: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council members are divided over imposing a blanket ban on advertisement hoardings in the city.
The urban development department has dumped the civic body’s BBMP outdoor signage and public messaging policy — 2018 that bans advertisement hoardings, made modifications to its advertisement bylaws of 2006 and published the draft on July 15 inviting objections from the public within a 15-day window.
In the council, Congress seems to be batting for hoardings, while opposition BJP has taken a different stand. The council will meet on Monday to finalise its stand.
BJP is firm on a total ban on ads, barring those in PPP model implemented for construction of public toilets, bus shelters and skywalks. The BJP-dominated council in 2015 had imposed a blanket ban on all advertisements, but it was revoked later during the administrator’s regime. Later, on August 5, 2018, the BBMP council decided to ban all hoardings, prompting those in the business to move the high court. Recently, the court stayed the ban order and is expected to give its verdict on August 1.
“BJP had banned hoardings, but it was revoked by the Congress government. Again it was banned, stating that BBMP will prepare its new advertisement policy and bylaw. The new bylaws were approved in the council meeting and was sent to the government. The council was against all commercial hoardings, kiosks and pole advertisements and backed only the PPP-mode advertisements. Now, the government has dropped the BBMP’s proposal and come out with its proposal. All these issues will be discussed on Monday,” BJP leader in the council Padmanabha Reddy said.
Congress floor leader in the council Abdul Wajid says the elected body must think about the livelihood of hoarding advertisers. “The urban development department had notified the draft rules. We’ve time to file objections. The council will discuss and ask the commissioner to file our objections over the notified rules. Let hoardings come back under the new rules issued by the department. But, now that the new government is in power, it’s up to BJP to take a call,” he added.
BJP spokesperson NR Ramesh said it was chief minister BS Yediyurappa who had banned hoardings and flexes within 2km of Vidhana Soudha in 2008. “This prevented politicians from getting their supporters to erect hoardings wishing them on their birthdays and other frivolous occasions,” he claimed.
Govt makes changes
The then Bengaluru development minister G Parameshwara held meetings with the urban development officials and directed them to make appropriate changes to the 2006 bylaws. The department, making use of section 427 of the KMC Act —1976, which empowers the government to make rules in lieu of bylaws and rules, may add to, alter or cancel any bylaw made by the corporation.
Poor revenue collection
The Palike’s revenue from advertisements is very poor. It has never collected beyond Rs 29 crore, most of which is spent on enforcement. BJP’s NR Ramesh said: “The Kempegowda International Airport which is spread over 4.5sqkm is doing a business of Rs 200 crore through advertisements, but we are unable to achieve the same despite BBMP’s jurisdiction extending to 700sq km. BBMP can collect huge amount of revenue only by allowing advertisements on the Outer Ring Road. But officials are least bothered.”