The Hindu                09.10.2013

Civic body steps up drive against illegal hoardings

The Chennai Corporation and the district collectorate have scaled up operations against hoardings and digital banners across the city.

The drive has been intense in Egmore, Triplicane, Mylapore, Nungambakkam, Alandur and Sholinganallur. At a meeting on Tuesday, officials from the taluk monitoring committee informed the Coordination Committee on Hoardings and Digital Banners that more than 300 hoardings had been removed in the city so far.

The Coordination Committee expressed satisfaction over the drive. It however stressed the need for filing criminal cases against those responsible for erecting illegal digital banners and hoardings.

Police personnel have so far initiated criminal action against six persons.

According to Ali Khan Basheer, councillor of Pudupet, officials had recently removed all the hoardings on the stretch between Spencer Plaza and Anna Statue. “They have also warned private agencies that had erected banners,” he said.

Some councillors pointed to continuing violations in a number of areas.

“There are 10 hoardings on the 100-feet road from Padi Bridge to Kolathur Retteri junction. We do not know if the structures are authorised. Most of the advertisements pertain to housing projects,” said Deva Jawahar, councillor of ward 65 in Kolathur.

Most banners carry advertisements of private enterprises, including those of cinemas, food products, motor vehicles and jewellers. A number of them are displayed on bridges and subways.

A few months ago, the Madras High Court directed the collector to remove all illegal hoardings, digital banners and take necessary action to penalise those who had contravened the rules and regulations under the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act. The collector instructed all tahsildars to identify and remove all unauthorised hoardings in the district.

The drive has been intense in Egmore, Triplicane, Mylapore, Nungambakkam, Alandur and Sholinganallur.