Illegal Banners: How to rid the city of ugly banners, boards

BANGALORE: A banner or an ad signboard can come up only in areas that have BBMP's permission. There would be less than 2,000 such spaces. However, the number of flex boards banners is estimated to be at least 50,000. Of them, flex boards erected by a political party conveying season's greetings and birthday wishes crop up frequently. They are not only an eyesore but even a threat to road safety.

`Ward Officers must Conduct Checks'

STEPS:
Just laws aren't enough. Over 80% of all flex banners are polit ical. To take them down, BBMP needs to have sheer political will

Ward officers must conduct surprise checks on a weekly basis to bring down such boards and impose penalty

Citizens must be vigilant. They must take pictures of violations and send it to BBMP. Apps such as B Pac's Spotter or BBMP's Sahaya will help raise issues

Citizens must also raise it with their corporators and MLAs.They must understand that voters do not like it

Have a few carefully chosen designated spots in every ward to put up banners. Keep it locked and collect a fee for use

Ads for hostels, religious festivals also contribute to this mess

OFFICIAL LINE
BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said the local body was continuously bringing down illegal banners and booking cases against those responsible. “We have already booked more than 200 criminal cases,“ he said. He added that the corporation was also working with MLAs and corporators, convincing them that their wards are better off without these banners, and called for citizens to work closely with officials to enforce this.

`Swift Action will be a Deterrent'

STEPS:
BBMP, in consultation with the police, must articulate a policy to consider the location, design, size or type of sign. Especially, along the arterial routes

Better and stringent enforcement of law and raising civic awareness must be taken up by the BBMP and civil society

If action against illegal advertising or hoardings that violate laws is taken swiftly and penalties enforced, it will act as a deterrent.BBMP and the city police must send a `zero tolerance' message by their enforcement

As law-makers, political leaders should urge their members to keep road safety in mind