BBMP, B’luru police join hands in cracking down on illegal hoardings

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: What may look like their last-ditch effort, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) have called on the Bengaluru City Police (BCP) for help in cracking down illegal hoardings which has not simmered despite Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s strict policies against it.

In a meeting on Tuesday chaired by Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath and BCP Commissioner B Dayananda, a Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) for both Palike officials and cops will be issued in which powers to remove unauthorized hoardings are prescribed.

Police will be directed to visit all printers in their respective jurisdiction, and warn them against printing illegal flex banners. Those failing to follow, will be dealt with fines and legal action, to which the meeting agreed. A Police officer under every jurisdiction will be deployed to keep tabs on such unauthorized hoardings.

“Cops will also be put on night patrol duty to keep an eye on illegal hoardings,” Dayananda added. Munish Moudgil, Special Commissioner (Revenue), BBMP hinted that a mobile application to spot illegal hoardings is in progress.

Those erecting illegal hoardings will be taken under the Karnataka Open Places Act (KOPD). They also violate the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

Placing any banner on public places, grounds, parks, road medians, footpaths, flyovers, electric poles without any permission, the Corporation Act will be considered as a violation and a case under Section 326 of the Corporation Act ill be registered.