GHMC FAILS TO REMOVE ILLEGAL HOARDINGS

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation officials have failed to remove illegal and unauthorised publicity material being displayed by commercial establishments, educational institutions and voluntary organisations in the Old City area despite directions from principal secretary in the municipal administration and urban development, Mr Arvind Kumar.

Unauthorised hoardings and flexis are mushrooming in different parts of the Old City area, particularly in and around the Naya pul area. This is happening in violation of norms, as they don’t pay advertisement fee to the GHMC.

Many commercial establishments are erecting flexis and hanging banners on the roadside under the guise of conveying greetings to political parties or wishing them on festivals. This way they display their brand name while also evading advertisement tax, though in violation of the GHMC Act.

To avoid removal of these banners, they picture public representatives like MPs or MLAs on the publicity materials. They don’t even desist from erecting these banners and flexis on monuments.

Likewise, educational institutions are using electricity poles to promote their institutions by fixing banners or pasting stickers.

Mr Kumar, during his visit to the Old City area earlier this month, had observed that public places, roads, street light poles were being defaced with flexis and banners and directed officials to implement the Public Properties Defacement Act strictly and ensure that public places, roads, street light poles, fly overs, bus shelters and government are not defaced.