Committee to look into use of hoardings for poll publicity

A committee headed by the additional chief secretary (ACS)and BBMP commissioner will look into applications by political parties seeking permission to use commercial hoardings for publicity, said Sanjiv Kumar, Chief Electoral Officer.

Political parties, mainly BJP, had alleged that the applications filed seeking permission to use commercial hoardings in the city were being delayed.

On Tuesday, Sanjiv Kumar said certain rural and urban body enactments have come in the way of clearing such applications.

The political parties want to use around 7,000 commercial hoardings in the city for election purpose. The parties said that the owners of such hoardings were willing to give them the hoardings.

Confusion about use

“There is some confusion whether such hoardings can be used for election publicity or not. A committee chaired by ACSs, which also include BBMP commissioner, will supervise and decide on the equitable use of these hoardings,” he said.

“The local administrations have to decide on enactments like Panchayat Raj Act, Urban Bodies Act and open spaces disfigurement Act,” the officer said adding that it was up to the officials keeping a tab on expenditure either to take these publicity hoardings into party’s or candidate’s expenditure. Under ‘Suvidha’ — a single window system — applications are being disposed within 24 hours and till date, 5,249 applications have been cleared of 5,483 applications received, he said.

“Permission to use helicopters cannot be given without going through safety regulations. At many places, a fire engine needs at least four hours to reach the spot. Hence, some such applications are delayed,” he said.