BAHAWALPUR, July 21: An operation will be launched to remove hoardings and billboards creating hurdles in the smooth flow of traffic and defacing government and private buildings.

This was stated by District Coordination Officer (DCO) Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed here on Monday.

The DCO said the step was being taken to ensure clean and green city roads and provide maximum facilities and pollution-free atmosphere to the citizens.

He said that TMAs would be directed to allow the hoardings and billboards of uniformed sizes and that their sites should be auctioned through open bids as against the past years’ policy of allowing the sites free-of-cost to the favourites.

Mr Ahmed said the drive against land grabbers would be continued. He said the state land had been retrieved from the illegal possession of a number of qabza groups during the last few days in the district.

The DCO said that a task force would be set up at the district level under the directive of the Punjab chief minister to ensure the drive against the qabza groups a success.

This task force would comprise government officials while five unofficial members would be nominated from different sections of society, he said.