PIL against political parties' hoardings

Chennai, Mar 13 (UNI) A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was today filed in Madras High Court seeking a direction to the authorities to remove unauthorised hoardings erected by political parties in Chennai.

The PIL by advocate K Kanagaraj is likely to be heard tomorrow.

Mr Kanagaraj said all political parties had erected numerous hoardings in and around the city. Though there were stipulations and specifications for erection of such hoardings, no political party seemed to follow rules and regulations and the Chennai Corporation was also not taking any measure either to regulate such hoardings or collect the necessary feas as per rules, he added.

As the authorities were not imposing any restrictions on hoardings, parties were at liberty to put them up as they pleased.

They were Encroaching public space, causing inconvenience to the general public. Several hoardings were erected across roads and road junctions which hindered smooth flow of traffic. Traffic police remained silent spectators and neither took any steps either to forbid or restrict unauthorised hoardings nor levied any penalty for such violation.

Since the ruling party had erected many hoardings in and around Chennai, officials were hesitating to impose any fee or forbid such hoardings. So, other political parties too were taking advantage of this situation and had erected their own hoardings. At present, over 10,000 hoardings, each of 250 sq ft had been put up in the city.

He had sent a representation to the Chennai Corporation Commissioner. But there was no reply, Mr Kanagaraj filed PIL.

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