Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike sets a deadline to clear illegal commercial hoardings

Finally the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has awaken from its slumber and decided on a deadline for removal of unauthorised commercial hoardings, flex banners and boards, warning violators with stringent action if they fail to meet it.

Meanwhile, the BBMP has itself removed over 5,000 unauthorised banners, flexes and hoardings in city.

Now, M Lakshminarayana, commissioner of BBMP has issued a circular giving a deadline upto August 8 to remove the unauthorised hoarding, boards, commercial advertisements, banners and flexes.

According to the Lakshminarayana , about 90 per cent of hoardings and flex banners in the city are unauthorised. Other than spoiling the beauty, these are causing a loss to the BBMP exchequer too. Although having noticed this, some of the officials have failed to take action against the violators. However, now the BBMP has directed officials to take action against such unauthorised hoardings, flex banners and other boards within city limits.

A press statement by BBMP said that public should co-operate with palike in keeping the city clean and hoardings-free. Failure to follow the law will lead to the palike booking cases under the Karnataka Open Places (prevention of difigulent) Act. In case anyone wants to erect a flex banner or hoardings in city, they have to take permission from the BBMP, the press statement said.

Almost ten days back, on July 20, Upa Lokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi directed the joint commissioners of each zone of BBMP to remove illegal hoardings, flex-boards and banners within a month. Since July 22, the BBMP has removed about 5,000 unauthorised flex banners, hoardings and boards in eight zones.