The Hindu : NDMC turns a blind eye towards hoarding menace

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 12, 2003

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Other States - New Delhi

NDMC turns a blind eye towards hoarding menace

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI FEB. 11. When it comes to political parties, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) dreads "antagonising'' them even when they are not following the laws and rules. And if the party happens to be the one in power, the NDMC functionaries prefer to look the other way.

In blatant violation of the Supreme Court guidelines, huge hoardings of the BJP's youth wing -- Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha -- have come up in and around India Gate here and also on Ashoka Road, Janpath and Maulana Azad Road. These are hanging precariously, posing a hazard to the safety of motorists and other passers-by.

This is not an isolated case. One can find giant hoardings in and around offices of every major political party, be it the BJP or the Congress. Even leading nationalised banks, financial institutions and public sector undertakings have put up hoardings outside their offices, particularly in and around Connaught Place.

BJYM has gone a step further and erected hoardings and banners all over Lutyens' Delhi, particularly at roundabouts on Ashoka Road and around India Gate. These hoardings came up almost a fortnight ago but NDMC's enforcement squad which patrols the area throughout the day has failed to notice them.

Under the West Bengal Public Property Defacement (Prohibition) Act, which is applicable in the entire National Capital Region of Delhi, putting up hoardings and banners without prior permission is a punishable offence. Even the Supreme Court in its judgment had asked the civic authorities to ensure that there should be no hoardings and banners on the roadside which could be dangerous to motorists. Some fatal accidents had also been reported due to these hoardings and banners in the past.

The NDMC itself has gone a step further by constructing public facilities like toilets, garbage stations and bus stops on a build-operate-transfer basis and using their walls for putting up huge well-lit hoardings which are a major distraction for motorists.

Things get worse when there is a political rally or meeting in New Delhi and thousands of hoardings and banners come up in the area without any proper permission from the civic body. Even after the conclusion of the event these hoardings and banners are not removed for weeks. Here also the NDMC is accused of inaction.

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