Outdoor advt policy for rural areas soon?

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, January 15

With the implementation of outdoor advertisement policy of the Local Government, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation will generate Rs 27.54 crore from advertisements project in the city areas for the first year.

But, there is no policy for outdoor advertisements in the areas located outside the municipal limits.

A large number of “illegal” advertisements are being displayed just outside MC’s jurisdiction at Gill Road, Pakhowal Road, Ferozepur Road and other areas for past several years. In the absence of any policy, private firms are minting huge money by displaying big hoardings without getting permission from GLADA or any panchayat concerned.

Minister for Department of Rural Development and Panchayat, Punjab, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa said there was currently no outdoor advertisement policy for areas outside MC limit, but they can plan to introduce it. “A suggestion to introduce such a policy was brought to my notice. It is a good suggestion and we will study the experience of the Department of Local Government. We will make efforts to make an advertisement policy soon,” he said.

Need of the hour, say residents

Kuldeep Singh Khaira, a Gill Road resident, said: “The state exchequer suffered loss as private firms for the past 10 years displayed illegal advertisements outside MC areas. But nobody cares as no action has been taken against such illegal advertisements. The government should introduce an advertisement policy for outside MC areas, so that the departments concerned can generate revenue and carry out development in those areas. Outdoor advertisement policy for rural and PUDA areas is the need of hour.”

“Like MC, the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority and panchayats can generate good revenue if the state government introduces an advertisement policy for PUDA and rural areas. There is no major source of income with panchayats, but good revenue can be generated from advertisements,” a GLADA official said.

Harpreet Singh Sekhon, Estate Officer, GLADA, said they have written to the government for the formulation of a policy for advertisements in areas under GLADA/PUDA. “It will be very beneficial if any such policy is introduced,” he said.