City to be free of illegal ads on roads soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Once the city gets over with the Independence Day celebrations, the City Corporation is all set to launch its drive against all those boards and posters that have found a place in the posts, pillars and public places around.  The decision has been taken by the Finance Standing Committee of the Corporation and has been communicated to the Revenue officials in the local body. As many as six squads led by the Assistant Revenue Officer have been formed. However, they are not exclusively devoted to the drive. But a couple of the squads while on their rounds in the city have been assigned with the task of looking out for such illegal putting up of posters and small boards. The squads will start removing them from August 15.   It is not the first time that the City Corporation is venturing out on a drive to clear the unpleasant sight. It is the realisation that a continuous and sustained effort is necessary to make any progress in carrying the message across to the traders or organisers who find the electric posts, open places and public buildings good spots to place their ads that has made the Corporation take up the drive again.   ‘’We will remove the small boards, posters and small flex items that have been put up without permission. No notices would be served, we will just pull them out. For, we have already given the message many a time, but nothing has come of it,” said Deputy Mayor G Happykumar.   The Corporation officials have noted the presence of such small boards even in the heritage zones, including the Fort and Vellayambalam-Kowdiar stretches. In the East Fort area, in and around the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, the nuisance has increased to a great extent. With the spot turning a hot destination for tourists and devotees now, there has been no stopping them. The bypass in Chackai and Attakulangara are also places where the violation is in full spring.   According to Corporation officials, they have introduced a hologram to be pasted on the big hoardings. The holograms are given out at the time of issuing the licence. However, in the case of small boards and posters, though rules call for a permission from the respective local body if a public place is in use, it is never taken into consideration by the organisers/individual traders who put up the ads.   The Revenue squads have been set up by the Corporation to intensify tax collection and to assess the government buildings, religious properties and offices of various organisations which have been enjoying zero tax status illegally. These squads have been assigned the new task too.