BBMP for blanket ban on all hoardings

The BBMP Council on Wednesday passed a resolution to ban hoardings across the City limits with immediate effect. The proposal was tabled by the ruling BJP leader in the Council N R Ramesh and the Council gave its nod.

“In view of aesthetic look of the City, safety of the commuters, administrative discipline in the BBMP and environment protection, a decision to remove all the hoardings from the City has been taken. The City should be cleared from advertisements at open places,” said the resolution.

All kinds of hoardings, including the private ones, have also been banned. This would prevent us from unwanted comments by the Lokayukta as well as the High Court against the BBMP Commissioner, members and the MLAs, read the resolution.

Further, the resolution said, “The BBMP was getting very less revenue from the advertisements whereas a huge amount was going for fighting court cases. We could increase our revenue if we assign the officers in advertisement section to collect property taxes. It will also reduce the cases of felling trees for the better display of hoardings.”

The Palike resolution permits putting up a display board of permitted size outside the commercial establishment free of cost but nobody will be allowed to erect a hoarding even in their own property. The resolution also cancels all the hoardings with deemed permission.

“Anybody violating the ban will invite a criminal proceeding. Hoarding on private properties, rooftop, business centres and inside the malls is also banned. All the hoardings should be removed with immediate effect,” read the resolution. Along with those putting up the hoardings, the joint commissioners of the respective BBMP zones will be held accountable and disciplinary action will be taken for their inaction.