Shopian: Municipal authorities in Shopian have finally swung into action to removed posters, hoardings and other advertising banners installed by the private agencies without prior permission from the authorities.
The Municipal Committee Shopian during the fiscal year 2020-21, almost spent around crore rupees on town beautification which include Clock tower in Goal Chowk, beautification around historic Jamia Masjid, paintings and lights.
According to an official from the Municipal Committee these hoardings and posters had defaced the town beauty and except one private coaching centre, none had taken permission from the Municipal authorities since as per law nobody in Municipal area is allowed use any public space for advertising before the official permission.
He said that most of these hoardings and posters were pasted by private coaching centres without any permission from authorities.
Officials said that these random hoardings and posters not only defaced the town beauty after expenditure of lakhs of rupees but also problems to the private owners who had spent money on beautification of their structures.
Suhail Ahmad Malik, executive officer, Municipal Committee Shopian told Kashmir Reader that they are continuing the drive of removing these hoardings for more days, till all of them are removed. “Before removing these, we took a drive for installation of snow stoppers on shops and other establishments near roads,” he said.
Malik said that they have given contract for advertisement to a private agency against Rs 1,50000 for three years in an online auction.” After removal of these hoardings and posters if anybody is found using Municipal space illegally will taken to task,” he said.
Officials said that there are guidelines even for those who have contract like how and where to use the Municipal space

Raashid Hassan