The Pioneer               23.04.2013

Drive launched for removal of hoardings in Brahmapur

Earlier, the owners were informed to remove their hoardings, but they had not responded. During the operation which continued from 7 am to 5 pm, around 120 hoardings were removed from the Corporation Road, Khallikote College Road, Bijipur, New Bus-Stand, Old Bus-Stand, Gandhinagar and Railway Station Road.

Ganjam Collector Dr Krishan Kumar, SP Anirudha Singh, BMC Commissioner Dr Ajit Kumar Mishra, Brahmapur Sub-Collector Bijay Kumar Da and Tehsildar Rashmi Ranjan Nayak were present.

It may be mentioned that in February the BMC had issued a tender notice inviting interested parties to submit their quotations for undertaking the hoarding work in the city. A firm, Excellent Advertisement Agency, reportedly submitted its tender for Rs50 lakh for undertaking the work for 300 hoardings, 250 electric polls and 100 bulletins as per an agreement executed between the agency's proprietor Krushna Chandra Choudhury and the BMC. According to BMC sources, since the agency could not pay the amount in time, the authorities were compelled to remove the hoardings.

On the contrary, Choudhury said his firm had already fixed 120 hoardings earlier, and for the remaining hoardings the BMC was requested to identify the suitable places which the BMC is yet to do for which the amount as agreed was not paid.

The firm has taken shelter in court of law and would abide by the court order, said Choudhury. However, the BMC Commissioner said the operation for removal of all illegal hoardings would continue.