Include Kannada in ad or lose trade licence: BBMP

BBMP will pull down shop boards without Kannada translation.
Commercial ad boards in English put up near Assaye Road, Pulikeshi Nagar | Pushkar V
Commercial ad boards in English put up near Assaye Road, Pulikeshi Nagar | Pushkar V

BENGALURU: In a move that could surely stress out shopkeepers and other commercial trade licence holders, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is gearing up to ensure that shop boards and advertisements which do not carry text in Kannada, prove costly to the shop owners.

Come Monday, BBMP authorities will not just be pulling out advertisement boards which have no Kannada text on it, but they will also be cancelling the trade licence of these traders.On Saturday, a few pro-Kannada organisation members met the Mayor and raised an objection against the usage of non-Kannada languages in many of the shops and establishments. They requested the Mayor to conduct a special drive. The Mayor then issued a statement to conduct a special drive from Monday. “If Kannada isn’t used on an advertisement board, it has to be removed immediately and also trade licence has to be withdrawn with immediate effect,” he told officials.

“Not carrying Kannada text is a violation of the Shops and Commercial Establishments Act and the BBMP is authorised to act against violators,” the Mayor said.The Mayor said that these boards should have Kannada text compulsorily and at least 60 per cent of the space should be given to Kannada. Kannada Development Authority (KDA) Chairman S G Siddaramaiah said that they had written a letter to the BBMP Commissioner earlier to enforce it.

What does the rule say
Under, 24-A Karnataka Shops & Commercial Establishments Act, the name board of every establishment shall be in Kannada and if any other language is used, it should be below the Kannada version.

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