The Hindu 22.04.2013
BMC launches drive against illegal billboards
CRACKING THE WHIP:Hoardings are being removed near the old bus stand in Berhampur on Sunday.— PHOTO: LINGARAJ PANDA
of the police, on Sunday started demolishing billboards erected
‘illegally’ by an advertising agency all around the city.
Large
billboards and the metal frames for it were destroyed by the
authorities at old bus stand, corporation road, Gandhi Nagar, Khallikote
autonomous college square and other areas.
According to the BMC sources, the demolition process to remove the illegally placed billboards would continue.
Speaking to
The Hindu
, BMC Commissioner Ajot Mishra said it was an irony that the
advertisement firm that had put up these billboards throughout the city
had not paid anything as licence fee to the BMC.
According
to Mr. Mishra, the advertising firm had paid only Rs. 9 lakh four years
ago to the BMC and had taken permission to put up advertisement
billboards within the city limits. But, during the subsequent years the
company did not pay any licence fee to the BMC.
When
the BMC, to augment its income, came out with a tender for billboards
within the city limits, owners of the same erring advertising firm
applied in the name of another firm to become the highest bidder to take
the contract. Although the firm agreed to pay Rs. 60 lakh as the
licence fee to the BMC as per its furnished tender papers, the firm
never deposited the fee with the BMC. It was heard that the company was
planning to approach the court of law also.
Ties snapped
Meanwhile,
the BMC authorities have blacklisted the company and have decided to
snap all ties with it. At a meeting of the BMC, a resolution was also
made against the company and it was decided to demolish all its
illegally erected billboards. The district administration had also
ordered for removal of most of these billboards as they were put in
dangerous condition on the side of busy roads.
The
BMC Commissioner said most of the billboards and their metal structure
were in a precarious condition and may cause accidents. He also advised
all owners of buildings where billboards have been put up to take
permission and approval from the BMC and the Berhampur Development
Authority (BDA). “They would also have to furnish safety certificates
and pay licence fee for advertising to the BMC,” he added.