HC wants details of 1,880 hoardings still left in city

The high court on Tuesday ordered the BBMP to submit details of the 1,880 illegal hoardings and structures that have not been removed by their owners despite being served notices by the civic body. 

The counsel for the BBMP told the court that 1,987 illegal hoardings still existed in the city and that their owners hadn’t responded to notices so far.

But 107 of these hoardings were voluntarily removed by their owners. 

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari was hearing a PIL petition for removal of illegal flex banners and hoardings. When the court demanded the BBMP what action it would take to remove the
1,880 hoardings, the civic body’s counsel spoke about filing criminal cases. 

Meanwhile, in an affidavit, the state government submitted that it had examined a letter that sought its approval for the BBMP Outdoor Signage and Public Messaging Policy, 2018, and the BBMP Outdoor Signage and Public Messaging Bylaws, 2018. 

The government said the policy was essentially a statement of intent and the government has no objections to it. 

As regards the bylaws, the BBMP has powers under section 425 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, to make them and submit them to the government for sanction. In short, the BBMP should just follow the procedure.

The government doesn’t have to take any action as of now, the court was told. 

The Advocate General stated that he would submit the details of the appeals filed in the sessions court about the offences concerning illegal hoardings. 

The matter will be heard again on September 17. 

Govt okays ad bylaws

The Urban Development Department (UDD) on Tuesday approved the BBMP’s proposal on implementing the Outdoor Signage and Public Messaging Policy, 2018. 

The BBMP council had approved the policy to ban all commercial advertisements in the city following high court orders. 

The BBMP had sent the bylaws to the government and the letter by the Additional Chief Secretary, UDD, to the commissioner states that the department does not have any objections and the BBMP can go ahead in making a public appeal for a period of one month and call in if there are any objections.