The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has announced
the formation of a 12-member squad to survey and take action against unauthorised
hoardings in its jurisdiction. This comes after several accidents involving unstable
hoardings resulted in fatalities. Over 1,000 hoardings remain unattended despite
the announcement of a hoarding-related policy.
Earlier, there was no department or manpower to act against unauthorised
hoardings. A few months ago, a policy and guidelines were framed. Earlier, it took
action on unauthorised hoardings through contract staff. now it will set up sky
signs.
The 12-member squad will inspect each and every hoarding in the PMRDA
jurisdiction, and action will be taken to regularise hoardings by searching for
hoarding owners and verifying documents. Last year, the Pune district
administration had conducted a survey of hoardings in the PMRDA jurisdiction
and found only 27 out of the total 1,440 hoardings to be authorised and the
remaining 1,413 hoardings to be unauthorised. Eighty-seven out of the 1,413
unauthorised hoardings were deemed hazardous; posing a significant risk of
accidents.
