Civic body puts SSP on notice

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 24

The Municipal Corporation has served a notice on the police for allowing private companies to display advertisements on barricades and beat boxes in the city.

Sources said in the notice sent to the UT SSP, the MC Commissioner had asked him to stop companies from misusing barricades and beat boxes for advertisement purposes without getting the necessary approval.

The notice said the advertisement fees to be recovered was being calculated and the police would be informed about it in due course of time.

An MC official said companies which had displayed advertisements on barricades would be served notices regarding the penalty.

According to the Advertisement Control Order, 1954, amended in 2008, the Finance Secretary is the Chief Administrator and competent authority to allow the display of advertisements. However, the power has been delegated to the MC Commissioner.

It has been observed that the companies have been putting up advertisements on barricades with impunity, causing a huge loss to the MC. The sources said the MC had decided to start a survey in the city to check such misuse and take necessary action.

Under the Advertisement Control Order, no company can display advertisements without permission from the MC.