The Times of India              02.09.2013

Last warning issued on billboards

KOZHIKODE: City corporation authorities are considering a proposal to make it mandatory for all advertisement hoardings erected in its limits to carry the corporation seal and date of receiving permission. The move was taken to curb the mushrooming of illegal hoardings.

The Town Planning Standing Committee has already started working on the proposal which will help the crisis-ridden civic body fetch more revenue for its exchequer. The corporation had already removed over a hundred unauthorized hoardings and banners. Field staff removed unauthorized ad in Kallai Road, Palayam Subway, Eranhipalam, Link Road, Pavamani Road and Ram Mohan Road. It also decided to keep Mananchira an advisement-free zone.

Section 272 of the Kerala Municipalities Act says consent of the secretary of the civic body is a must for the erection of advertisements. Though the civic body carried out many campaigns against illegal hoardings, it failed to serve the purpose. At present, the civic body is in the process of issuing notices under section 275 of the Municipality Act to remove unauthorized advertisements. Penalty will be levied for the removal of such advertisements according to the size of the advertisement that has been erected.

According to the city corporation authorities, the civic body currently receives only Rs58 lakh income per year from advertisements. The civic body had entrusted a private party with the task of collecting this fee.

Town standing committee chairperson T Rajani said the civic body will stamp the seal in such a way that it cannot be tampered with. "Corporation officials will stamp the seal on display ads. The officials will stamp a seal and date of permission granted after conducting a site inspection and verification," she said. "The corporation is losing huge amounts due to illegal hoardings that thrive in the city. The civic body has directed the advertisers to remove all illegal hoardings and banners erected at various locations before September 5, failing which, the civic body will step forward to remove the advertisements. The money to remove the banners will be levied from advertisers," she said.