Kochi: LSGs fail to remove flex boards

Kochi: Even if the urban local bodies could remove most of the illegal flex boards and hoardings from their areas as per the High Court order, the panchayats have failed to take any steps to this effect. Though October 31 is the deadline set by High Court for completing removal of unauthorised bill boards, rural areas are still dotted with hundreds of advertisement boards.

Kochi Corporation and urban municipalities like Kalamassery, Tripunith-ura, Maradu and Aluva in Ernakulam district have deployed special squads and initiated intensive drive to clear illegal bill boards as part of which truckloads of boards have been cleared.

However, due to lack of infrastructure facilities and staff shortage, many panchayats could not initiate the drive and will fail to comply with the HC directive. Though panchayat authorities have issued notice to political parties and various socio cultural organisations to remove illegal boards before the deadline, the response is poor.

In Mulanthuruthy, the civic body has hired vehicles for removing illegal boards. “We have cleared more than 65 per cent of illegal boards from the panchayat area. Based on the circular of Local Self Government Department, notice has been served to those who erected illegal bill boards for clearing it by October 31. After the deadline, panchayat will remove them the expense for which will be levied on the advertisers,” said George Mani, panchayat member.

28996 bill boards removed from municipalities

As per the latest data, a total of 28,996 illegal bill boards have been removed from different municipalities in Ernakulam district. Kochi Corporation has removed highest number of boards (11,856) while Koothattukulam municipality has manged to clear just 260.