Old rules make every hoarding illegal: BCC

Old rules make every hoarding illegal: BCC
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: IF the Bangalore City Corporation implements its advertising rules to the letter, then every hoarding in the city has to be pulled down to carry out Mayor R. Narayanaswamy’s order.

While the Mayor wants all illegal hoardings removed, BCC Special Commissioner Subhash Chandra, admitting that BCC’s advertising rules which were framed in 1956 are outdated, said: ‘‘They lack flexibility and strict implementation would make most of the hoardings in the city illegal.’’

‘‘BCC ensures that the hoardings are put up in conformity with the rules. But due to practical problems faced by the hoarding contractors, there is slight deviation allowed in terms of height of the hoarding,’’ Subhash Chandra clarified.

But a lack of updated rules has meant that advertising contractors and BCC officials have been at constant loggerheads.

In the latest controversy, Outdoor Advertising Association President S.M. Jawad, terming BCC hoarding removal drive illegal, has alleged corruption by BCC officials.

In a letter to BCC commissioner K. Jothiramlingam, Jawad has said the enforcement contractors Prakash and Srinivas were blackmailing hoarding contractors.

He further alleged that BCC assistant executive engineer Hanumanthe Gowda was conniving with the enforcement contractors.

Jawad alleged that the enforcement contractors are removing hoardings with undue zeal as they are paid Rs. 500 - Rs. 1,000 for hoarding pulled down. The more they remove, the more they earn.

‘‘How come BCC has let hoardings with violations exist for so many years? How come they were allowed in the first place?’’ questioned Jawad when contacted by this website’s newspaper.

Once the new rules that have been sent to the State Government for approval come into force, all these anomalies will be rectified, said Subash Chandra.

The new rules are also expected to authorise the use of latest technology in hoardings like electronic displays and wall wraps.