The Pioneer 14.10.2010
Removal of illegal advertisement hoardings begin at lastPNS | Dehradun
After a delay of two days due to dubious reasons, the process of removing illegal advertisement hoardings on rooftops started by the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun on Wednesday. According to official sources, though the MCD faced some opposition from those benefiting from these hoardings, it has launched the drive from near the Rispana Bridge on Haridwar Road.
Advertisement hoardings have been a contentious issue between Dehradun Mayor Vinod Chamoli and the State Government. The latest advertisement policy passed by the MCD Board was declared void by the State Government. Following this the MCD implemented the policy passed in 2003. Observers believe that the State Government declared the new advertisement policy void because it would have negatively affected the commercial interests of a few influential business men with political connections. The stance taken by the Dehradun Mayor and MCD board accords more importance to the residents of Dehradun, welfare of the city and revenue earned by MCD from advertisements. In order to end the monopoly of a few agencies with influential connections, the Mayor ordered a hold on renewal of registration of old agencies which have not yet cleared their dues. Apart from this more than 30 new locally advertising agencies were also registered by the MCD.
Moreover the MCD also selected a contractor through tender process for removal of unauthorised advertisement hoardings from rooftops of commercial and residential buildings. The last survey undertaken by the MCD found at least 138 illegal rooftop hoardings though observers state that the actual number of such hoardings is more than 500. The removal of hoardings was slated to start on Monday but the contractor made some excuses not to start the task. According to the Additional Mukhya Nagar Adhikari (AMNA) Harak Singh Rawat, the contractor appeared to be making lame excuses to delay the work. The MCD then warned him that an FIR would be lodged against him for dishonouring his work commitment. Reports in the media also seem to have pressurised the contractor to start his work.
