Date:05/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/05/stories/2007090560440100.htm

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Illegal hoardings removed

Madurai Bureau

MADURAI/TIRUNELVELI: Madurai and Tirunelveli Corporations began a drive against illegal advertisement hoardings and flex boards on Tuesday.

While the Collector, G. Prakash, led the drive in Tirunelveli, the Assistant Commissioners and engineers of City and Town Planning Department supervised the drive in Madurai. Over 100 unauthorised hoardings were removed in both the cities.

While the temporary flex boards were removed by the staff, the Corporation officials employed heavy machinery to bring down the strong advertisement hoardings. In some cases, the advertisers themselves came forward to remove them. .

In Madurai, a section of residents opposed “selective removal” of hoardings. They pointed out that those put up by the ruling party, announcing the launch of ‘Kalaignar TV,’ were not removed. The new guidelines of State Government stipulate that permission for temporary hoardings for functions and political meetings can be granted only for five days.

Though the officials could give details of the number of legal and unauthorised billboards, an official said that those hoardings for which “grant of permission was under process” were not touched. Welcoming the drive, P. Salamuthu, leader of AIADMK in Madurai Corporation council, said he would “wait and watch” the nature of action taken by officials.