Lok Sabha Question No. 2689 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-01
Subject: Illegal Hoarding
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, SUDHEER GUPTA, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2689

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 1 ST  AUGUST, 2017/ SHRAVANA 10, 1939 (SAKA)

## ILLEGAL HOARDING

2689.

SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR: SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR: DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA: SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN: SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  massive  illegal  hoardings  in Mumbai, Delhi and other major cities and along the National Highways in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the total loss of revenue to the Union and State Government therefrom;
- (d) whether the Government plans to bring a National Policy in this regard and issue necessary guidelines to beautify the cities, check distraction of traffic and extract maximum revenue therefrom;
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the time by which it is likely to come into force; and
- (f)  the  other measures proposed to bring more transparency, check illegal hoardings and for a more environment friendly measures in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

- (a) to (c): National Crime Records Bureau does not maintain such data.

## L.S.US.Q.NO.2689 FOR 1.8.2017

(d) to (f): In  its  order  dated  20.11.1997  in  CWP  No.13029  /  85,  titled  Shri M.C. Mehta Vs. Union of India & Others, Hon`ble Supreme Court has directed the civic authorities, the Railways, the police and transport authorities to identify and remove all hoardings, which are on road sides and which are hazardous  and  a  disturbance  to safe traffic  movement.  The  Hon`ble Supreme Court also approved an outdoor advertisement policy for the city of Delhi. The said policy provides for guidelines for display of advertisements through different kind of advertising devices, classified into four categories, with certain restrictions, while some of the advertisement modes have not been permitted for display of advertisements. Further, no advertisement can be displayed in public view, visible from a public street/ public place, in any manner, whatsoever at any place without the permission of the Commissioner of Municipal Corporation or the Chairperson of the Municipal Council, within their respective jurisdictions.

As  per  extant  policy  of  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways,  no advertisement  hoardings  are  permitted  on  National  Highways  within  the Right of Way except informatory signs of public interest such as hospitals, bus stations, etc. or advertisement of temporary nature announcing such as Mela,  Flower  Show  etc.   Under the policy  of private sponsorship  of  road

## L.S.US.Q.NO.2689 FOR 1.8.2017

signs  and  greening  of  National  Highways,  the  private  entrepreneurs  are allowed  to  depict  the  name/logo  of  their  company  in  a  sign  of  specified dimension. Instructions are issued to executing agencies from time to time for removal of unauthorised hoardings. Action against illegal hoardings is a continuous process and the same is taken on regular basis through various administrative and legal instruments. Steps are also taken by the Municipal Corporations to discourage display of unauthorised advertisements include launching  the  Zero  Tolerance  Campaign  for  removal  of  unauthorised advertisements, banners, posters, etc; imposing penalties on unauthorised displays; monitoring new events in the city displaying outdoor advertisements and taking action against them if their displays are found to be unauthorised; etc.

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