The Indian Express 16.07.2013
Political hoardings to get dedicated space
and hoardings, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is planning to allow
political hoardings only at dedicated spaces at prominent junctions.
They would be banned from other places.
The civic administration is regularising hoardings as per the
policy and has already acted against those existing illegally or those
violating norms. This has put a check on billboards used for commercial
advertisements but indiscriminate display of political hoardings
continues. These hoardings come up overnight and are placed anywhere
along roads.
“The issue of political hoardings needs to be tackled carefully
as they are difficult to control. We are planning to reserve certain
displays at specific locations in the city which would be meant for
political messages at nominal rates,” said Additional Municipal
Commissioner Rajendra Jagtap.
He said that around 50 such locations have been identified. These
hoardings will also be made available for public notices and social
messages in public interest.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner D P More said that the civic
administration is working on a plan that would provide dedicated space
for political hoardings. The plan of Jagtap received a good response
from the outdoor advertisement association. In a two-day convention of
outdoor advertising industry recently held in Panji, the association
welcomed the solution presented by Jagtap.
The association had raised the issue of disruption created by
political hoardings and displays to commercial hoardings. “The solution
that certain displays be created at specific locations in the city which
would be meant only for public notices, social messages and for
political messages at nominal rates, found favour with all,” said
association member.
The civic administration is scrutinising each application to ensure hoardings are as per set norms.
