Stricter penalty for flouting ad bylaws: Sidhu

Saturday, 17/02/2018

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/stricter-penalty-for-flouting-ad-bylaws-sidhu/545274.html

Chandigarh : The Department of Local Government has decided to jail for one-and-a-half years those pasting illegal advertisements at unauthorised places.

The decision was taken under the Punjab Municipal Outdoor Advertising Policy, 2018, approved by the Cabinet yesterday.

The draft of the policy had recommended only a fine that was “recoverable as per procedure prescribed in the Municipal Act concerned”. Illegal advertisement will also be fixed on a per day basis on the rates decided by individual local bodies.

Local Government Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said: “In the absence of any punishment, offenders will continue flouting rules across the state. To control the menace, law needs to be strict. Necessary changes will be incorporated in the bylaws before the policy is notified.”

Flying squads will be constituted at district levels to conduct random raids in more than 165 local bodies all over the state. The names and areas of the officers concerned will be put on public notice boards. Municipal Corporations/Municipal Councils/Nagar Panchayats will be empowered to regulate the outdoor advertisements within their jurisdiction effectively.

To ensure transparency, jobs will be given through e-tendering/e-auction/e-bidding. Separate advertisement sites/spaces have been proposed to be reserved for government advertisement/display, which can be used by the government. Certain sites/spaces will be reserved for social and religious messages and will not be awarded by tender. There will be no advertisement on historical and archaeological buildings.

The policy now is an amendment to the earlier Municipal Outdoor Advertisement Policy of 2012. Taking up his office last year, Sidhu pointed out that the state collected just Rs20 crore from 165 towns against around Rs150 crore from 80 urban settlements in Haryana. Indicating setting up a strict regulatory body, Sidhu has announced collecting at least Rs200 crore from advertisements.

The minister had indicated the role of private players, including a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) minister, in the last government, who had allegedly exploited the “weak laws” to make quick bucks.

The policy has also sought public cooperation in the implementation of the policy on ground. A complaint lodged on the web portal of the department will be addressed within three days and the complainant will be answered individually.

The new policy

Under the Punjab Municipal Outdoor Advertising Policy, 2018, flying squads will be constituted at district levels to conduct random raids in more than 165 local bodies all over the state.

Municipal Corporations, councils and nagar panchayats will be empowered to regulate the outdoor advertisements within their jurisdiction.

Separate advertisement sites have been proposed to be reserved for government advertisement and social and religious messages. There will be no ads on historical and archaeological buildings.