HDMC launches drive to remove illegal boards, banners

Dharwad: Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation has launched a drive to remove unauthorised advertisement boards and flex banners put up in Dharwad.The drive comes after the corporation served notices and several rounds of warning to those who have put up the hoardings illegally.
Some environmentalists and the public had complained about hoardings erected in the city besides nailing the trees to place the advertisements.The issue had come up for discussion at the HDMC general body meeting recently and the members had urged the officials to initiate action.
Corporator and former mayor Iresh Anchatgeri said the HDMC should get a revenue of nearly Rs 7 crore from the advertisements put in public places. But the officials have not acted upon those placing the advertisements illegally and this is causing a huge loss to the HDMC, he said.
The HDMC has also decided to penalise those placing the advertisement by nailing the trees.