After an inspection report on illegal hoardings in Phagwara was submitted by the court commissioner, Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday sought a reply from Phagwara municipal corporation (MC) on whether they have notified any bylaws for regulation of outdoor media.
Sakshi Raheja, the advocate appointed as the court commissioner, was in the city on April 13 to check whether the MC had complied with a court order directing removal of illegal hoarding from MC limits.
Following the directions of HC, Phagwara MC had conducted a three-day special campaign from March 25 to 27 to remove all the illegal hoardings from the city.
During the drive MC authorities registered around 50 first information reports (FIRs) against defaulters, however, Raheja in her report - submitted on April 29 - mentioned that MC authorities might removed all the hoardings from the national highway but illegal hoardings and posters still dotted interiors of the city.
During inspection, Raheja had found that most of the illegal hoardings were erected by religious and private firms, while a few were put up by political parties.
In pursuance of the report Phagwara MC has been asked to file a reply by May 29 - the date fixed for the next hearing.
{{/usCountry}}In pursuance of the report Phagwara MC has been asked to file a reply by May 29 - the date fixed for the next hearing.
{{/usCountry}}"Recently we sent newly framed rules and bylaws for approval of the government but they objected and told us to pass a resolution in house meeting," said Iqbal Singh Sandhu, additional deputy commissioner-cum-commissioner of MC Phagwara.
"We have started sending notices to the building owners, who have installed hoardings on their buildings and soon everyone will be able install hoardings of permitted sizes only," he added.