District administration on Thursday launched a massive drive to remove illegal advertisement hoardings, banners and posters put up by commercial establishments and organisations on street lights and on roadsides on the commercial hub Kalimati Road in Sakchi.
Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) —the local urban body — along with Sakchi police roped in JCB and gas cutters along with several workers to pull down advertisements, glow sign boards and banners put up illegally mostly by shopkeepers announcing various schemes for the festive sale. Around 100 such advertisements and glow sign boards were removed.
JNAC following directive from the East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amitabh Kaushal had in the past carried out a drive against illegal hoardings and banners put up near important roundabouts near Sakchi, Sitaramdera and MGM roundabouts and also inside Sakchi market.
However, within weeks of the drive the situation is back to square one with hoardings and banners again sprouting near roundabouts.
"Besides posing danger to the public, these hoardings are hung without the permission or knowledge of JNAC. The city had many huge hoardings of every sort a range of organisation, from residential associations to NGOs. Three years down the line, the number of flexes had only increased. The drive will continue until we get all the hoardings removed," said an official.
By removing the illegal hoardings and banners, JNAC is warning that those who put up these banners will have to face the legal action, he said.
SDO Dhalbhum Alok Kumar who was leading the drive said that they had warned the shopkeepers to remove such hoardings on their own as otherwise they will remove it. The drive has begun in Kalimati Road and would continue in other parts of Sakchi market and after which drive will be carried out at Bistupur, Golmuri, Mango, and Jugsalai.
The SDO said that the decision was taken following complaints from commuters about obstruction to view due to sprouting of such illegal hoardings.
For non-political hoardings and advertisement put up illegally by social outfits and commercial establishments, the civic bodies will initiate proceedings under the defacement act, sources said. According to the 1985 act, offenders are liable for fines up to Rs50,000 or imprisonment of six months.
Kalimati road is one of the busiest in the city as it is located near Sakchi market. It witnesses more than 2.5 lakh vehicles crossing it daily from approach roads like Straight Mile which is connected to residential areas of Sidhgora, Baridih, Agrico, Bhalubasa, Kasidih and Bistupur.