RAWALPINDI, Aug 7: The local authorities have delayed removing illegal signboards from commercial plazas after receiving threats of litigation from the affected parties, sources close to the beautification plan of the city in the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) told Dawn on Thursday.
In a meeting on July 28, the chairman of the task force on the beautification of big cities in Punjab, Sardar Azam Rashid, had directed the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) to remove all illegal signboards and banners from commercial plazas as well as roadsides after a survey conducted by the local government authorities showed that more than 56 per cent of the banners and signboards were illegal and created hindrance in implementation of the beautification plan in the city.
Mr Rashid had asked the TMA to remove the signboards by Aug 17 and start the campaign from the Moti Plaza, on Murree Road, which had the largest number of signboards in the city.
However, TMA officials were not allowed to remove even a single signboard from any of the plazas and were instead warned of a legal battle by the affected people. The affected people, most of them lawyers and businessmen, have termed the campaign illegal, saying that they had been paying taxes to the TMA for the signboards.
Some of the businessmen and lawyers have even threatened to vacate the plazas if their owners failed to protect the signboards.
“TMA officials along with some plaza managers held a meeting in the RDA on Wednesday to find out a middle way to the problem,” the source added. The meeting decided to put off the drive till both the parties reached an agreement on a code for displaying signboards, according to which only the display of signboards of some specific designs approved by the TMA would be allowed, the source said.
Moreover, people, organizations and companies would display signboards only in fronts of their offices. That’s why those having no offices on the roadsides could not display their signboards.
Meanwhile, the ban on the display of illegal signboards and banners is being violated under the nose of the concerned authorities. So far, no action has been taken against any of the hundreds individuals, companies, organizations and institutions who display illegal signboards.
The local Nazims, councillors and political activists, majority of whom run their own businesses, are openly violating the law, according to which a fine of Rs10,000 could be imposed on those displaying an illegal signboard or banner and Rs20,000 fine against those who indulge in wall-chalking.
Staff Reporter adds: The district government on Thursday banned decorative illumination of buildings, fireworks and musical programmes in connection with the Independence Day celebrations because of the devastation caused by floods in Sindh and Balochistan.
District Coordination Officer Hamid Ali Khan while presiding over a meeting held to review arrangements for the August 14 celebrations, directed that the occasion should be celebrated with simplicity.
He suggested that the auspicious occasion can be celebrated through organising rallies, sports competitions, declamation contests between students and Mushairas.
The meeting was told that the main event planned for August 14 would be flag hoisting by the district Nazim. The Tehsil Nazims would perform flag hoisting at the Tehsil headquarters.