Hubballi: The Hubballi-Dharwad City Police and the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) will jointly launch a drive against the illegal flexes, hoardings, buntings and other such publicity materials which are defacing the twin cities.
Addressing the media jointly here on Wednesday, Police Commissioner Pandurang Rane and HDMC Commissioner Siddalingaiah Hiremath said all the unauthorised advertising materials would not only be pulled down but their perpetrators would also face action under the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act 1976 and The Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1981. Those violating the rules will be punished with six months of imprisonment and Rs 1000 fine, Rane said adding that the drive would begin with immediate effect.
All elected representatives and persons concerned have extended their support for this cause, he said.
Hiremath said the unauthorised flexes were also causing road accidents. Henceforth, those interested in putting up the banners and flexes should seek permission from the area Assistant Commissioner of Police concerned which would also help detect the reasons for communal tensions arising out of such objectionable posters, he added.
Besides, the HDMC has identified 13 places as non-advertising zones in twin-cities. They are, Traffic Island, Channamma Circle, Dr. Ambedkar Circle, Old Bus Stand, Basavavana, major circles in Old-Hubballi, Durgadabail and other heavy traffic junctions in Hubballi. Similarly in Dharwad, Jubilee Circle, Kala Bhavan, Dr. Ambedkar Circle, Vivekananda Circle, KCC Bank Circle, Gandhi Chouk have been declared as areas where advertisements cannot be posted below eight feet height.
People may complaint to the control room or to the Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) on mobile number 9986468381, Hiremath said.
