File FIRs against those placing illegal hoardings: Lokayukta

Lokayukta Justice P Vishwanath Shetty has directed the police to initiate criminal proceedings against persons who put up illegal advertisement hoardings in the city.

The Lokayukta directed Bengaluru police commissioner to issue circular to all the police stations to register FIR against those displaying illegal hoardings. The Lokayukta is hearing a case of poisoning of 17 tress on Marathahalli ring road and at least 15 trees near Mahadevapura police station, by injecting acid.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials informed the Lokayukta that the HAL police have registered an FIR in connection with the Marathahalli ring road incident while the BBMP's forest wing is investigating the Mahadevapura incident. The trees were poisoned for a better visibility of the advertisement hoardings of a leading phone manufacturing company.

Directing the BBMP officials and the police to submit action taken report in these cases, Justice Shetty asked the police to bring such culprits to book.

“It is needless to point out that the forest wing of the BBMP and also all the police who come within the jurisdiction of Commissioner of Police Bengaluru City are required to take prompt action to prevent commission of offence of destruction of tree growth. The police wing in the BBMP and BDA also required to take active role in preserving the tree growth and also to prevent unauthorised display of advertisement hoardings. It is highly desirable that the Commissioner of Police issue necessary instructions and circulate the copy of this order to all the jurisdictional police stations to take effective steps, (sic)” Justice Shetty stated in the order.

Action report
The Lokayukta has stated that a team of officials may have to be created if the BBMP fails to take steps for removal of unauthorised advertisement hoardings in its limits.

The Lokayukta has directed the BBMP and the jurisdictional police (HAL police station) to submit the action report within eight weeks.
DH News Service