Unauthorized hoardings rampant in Pune : Municipal Corporation’s negligence exposed – Revenue hit

Pune  (Odisha Tazanews) Pune :-> Unauthorized hoarding and flexing are increasing in various places in the city, and the Municipal Corporation’s sky sign and licensing department does not have any clear information about it. It has been revealed that the administration has details of only authorized hoardings and advertisements that have been taken action.

According to the Municipal Corporation, there are currently 2,638 authorized hoardings in the city. Action was taken against 236 unauthorized hoardings in the last one year. Also, an income of Rs 31 crore has been collected from hoarding and flex licenses, while a fine of Rs 2 crore has been collected from the action.

Deceptive display of action against unauthorized hoarding According to the rules of the Municipal Corporation, a paid permission is required to put up a hoarding anywhere in the city. Also, the owner of the concerned hoarding is required to undergo a structural audit and renew the license every year. However, advertising is going on in many places without taking any permission. As a result, the Municipal Corporation’s revenue is taking a big hit.

Irresponsible system of the Municipal Corporation The Municipal Corporation has repeatedly announced to remove unauthorized hoardings, but they have disappeared into thin air. Two years ago, a hoarding was put up in different places in the Mundhwa area on a license. After that, a comprehensive inspection was ordered, but it was not implemented.

The ‘blind game’ of action continues The municipality registered 30 cases against those who erected unauthorized hoardings and flexes in the last year. Also, 121 complaints were filed in the police station. Still, large-scale advertising continues in the city’s main squares, footpaths and public places.

Anger among citizens The flexes and hoardings erected at various places on the roadside are becoming an obstacle for pedestrians. At the same time, the city is being disfigured due to unauthorized hoardings, and the pace of action by the municipal corporation is very slow.

The role of the sky signs department in defense The municipality has appointed a private agency to survey unauthorized hoardings in the city. Prashant Thombare, head of the sky signs and license department, has claimed that the report of this survey will be available soon.

Administration’s indifference regarding unauthorized hoardings The municipality does not have information about the exact number or location of unauthorized hoardings. Therefore, this matter has reached a situation where ‘the blind are grinding and the dog is eating flour’. The demand for concrete measures in this regard is gaining momentum from the citizens.