The BBMP will outsource the task of removing illegal advertisement hoardings across the city to private agencies, Corporation Commissioner M Lakshminarayana said.
On Monday, the subject of giving approval for calling of tenders to remove 525 illegal hoardings came up in the BBMP Council. Byrasandra ward Councillor Nagaraju said agencies that had put up these 525 flex boards had approached BBMP to regularise them. “In reality, there are more than 2,000 illegal hoardings across the city,” he said. Sunkenahalli ward councillor P N Sadashiva asked why should the Palike spend money on illegal hoardings that were put up by agencies.
Replying to this, Lakshminarayana said officials would identify all illegal hoardings and call for a tender to remove them. “We shall collect penalties from defaulters and utilise the amount for the tender. I shall issue an order to zonal commissioners to make provisions to remove these hoardings without causing additional financial burden to BBMP. They can take help of scrap dealers,” he said.
“Illegal hoardings have been erected at some BBMP schools and other properties. There are two hoardings at BBMP’s swimming pool building at Sadashivanagar,” said S Harish, former deputy mayor. “How can one put up these hoardings without the knowledge of our officials? BBMP officials are hand in glove with violators,” he alleged.
At the BBMP Council
■ A group of architecture students from California University, USA, attended the Council meeting. Mayor B S Sathyanarayana said they shall be asked to help design and develop Richmond Circle
■ Architect Naresh Venkatraman and theatre person Prakash Belwadi made a presentation on remodelling K R Market
■ Chief Conservator of Forest Brijesh Kumar said there are only 20 staff in BBMP’s forest cell to look after parks and trees, spread over 800 sqkm