The Hindu 23.12.2010
GHMC wants total ban on lollipop ads
Special Correspondent
HYDERABAD: The GHMC is demanding Hyderabad Metropolitan Development
Authority (HMDA), Roads & Buildings as well as the National Highways
Authority to follow its example and pull out the lollipop advertising
boards on central medians once current allotment periods are over.
The police had earlier demanded the municipal corporation to remove
such lollipops put up on the central medians of its roads through a
public auction as it posed a security threat besides causing
distractions and obstructions to the vehicular movement.
Now, it has realised that other departments have been freely granting
such permissions on a nomination basis without even informing the civic
body though most stretches are located within city limits.
“Ad agencies are supposed to maintain central medians including
greenery but at most places they are in pathetic state,” pointed out
senior officials.
Central medians at most places are in a bad shape and in fact, have
merged with the road carpet level leading to mishaps. Agencies, which
pay only advertisement tax to GHMC and ground rent to the respective
government departments, are also supposed to ensure that the height of
the median is proper, say officials.
“We are forced to maintain all main roads under our jurisdiction even
if they belong to other departments. We have also taken up greenery
maintenance on some central medians,” they claim.
Senior officials also charge that agencies have been illegally
putting up lollipops in more lucrative medians. For instance, one agency
which became prominent during the previous Chief Minister’s time put up
lollipops from Mehidipatnam to Narayanaguda despite having got the
nomination for Langar Houz to Shaikpet. Lollipops (1,723) belonging to
eight agencies – Icatch, Janahita, MNR Outdoor Ads, Retail Scapes, Rishi
Ad Media, See More Communications, Sneha Advertisers, Laxmipati
Productions and Adways have been identified.
Municipal officials have declared that GHMC would get at least 50 per
cent of the income generated from any advertising signboard.