KMC mulls policy to stop illegal hoardings in city

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) may soon formulate a new hoarding policy restricting the display of billboards throughout the city.

Under the new policy, the civic body will prohibit new billboard stands in the city and restrict the number of private billboard structures atop various buildings. The civic body will demarcate the places where hoardings billboards could be put up.

Mushrooming of illegal hoardings has often been a cause of concern for the civic body and the teams from the KMC conducts raid at various places dismantle many illegal hoardings. Agencies putting up the billboards have often been warned by the KMC to dismantle various billboards illegally put at various places. KMC takes action if the agencies fail to comply KMC's instruction. However, the need was felt to introduce a stringent policy after warnings by the civic body were found to be falling on deaf ears.

It was learnt that the KMC will demarcate some places where they will allow billboards. There will be a clear mention where no billboards will be allowed. If anybody puts up a billboard out of the demarcated places, action will be taken against the agency. Even in case of a billboard put in the demarcated place, the KMC will also fix the measurement of the flex or the hoarding.

The decision was taken after the KMC found that illegal hoardings that have come up in city was hampering the beautification drive taken up by the state government. The KMC had also received several complaints about illegal hoardings.

It was learnt that no billboards can be put in heritage building, trident lamps, various parks and statues. Twelve places have been identified as important areas which are Ultadanga, Moulali, Gariahat More, Park Circus and Hazra. No billboards will be allowed to be put up within 50 metre area from these places.

It may be mentioned that the KMC had earlier demarcated some places as no advertising zones. But this too failed to fully check the hoarding menace. In many cases, it has been found that the agencies were putting up billboards by flouting the instructions of the civic body. The billboards were also put up in no advertising zones. The policy is expected to check the illegal putting up of billboards in different places. Strong action will be taken against those who will flout the guidelines set by the KMC this time.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier asked Mayor Sovan Chatterjee to remove hoardings from the city's heritage zones. Following the Chief Minister's instruction the KMC had pulled down the billboards from various important areas. The CM had also announced plans to create a green zone from Park Circus to airport where no billboards would be allowed.