The Hindu            15.11.2013

Illegal billboards in Mangalore City Corporation limits face the axe

The Mangalore City Corporation on Thursday began a drive to bring down illegal hoardings in the city. Corporation officials brought down five hoardings along with the structures erected between Mallikatta market and Nantoor Junction.

One of the hoardings displayed advertisement of a cracker seller and another, activities of a church.

Licence not issued

Assistant Revenue Officer Praveenchandra Karkera said the corporation did not issue any licences for hoardings on the corporation property since 1996.

Permissions had been given for hoardings only in private properties, he said.

There were complaints about illegal hoardings by the side of the road in different parts of the city.

Six months ago, the corporation personnel brought down a few hoardings that had come up on the Airport Road.

Mr. Karkera said a month ago there were complaints about two illegal hoardings each at the Mallikatta market and near Nantoor junction.

They could not immediately take action as the personnel were busy with census work.

On Thursday, the corporation officials brought workers with gas cutters in three vehicles.

The first hoarding to be brought down was of a firm announcing prizes for purchasing crackers.

It took nearly thirty minutes for the personnel to remove the flex and then cut the super structure on which it was placed.

“They have created the structure using old sheets and iron poles to make it look like old one,” Mr. Karkera said.

Then the corporation personnel brought down another hoarding that announced the centenary celebrations of a church in Bendur.

They also brought down a smaller hoarding with its superstructures between these two big hoardings.

Mr. Karkera said the corporation will issue notices to the advertising agencies that had put up the five hoardings.

After a few days, they will go to Surathkal to remove illegal hoardings, Mr. Karkera said.