Cutting The Visual Clutter

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Hubli-Dharwad’s crackdown on illegal hoardings is part of a growing trend in Indian cities like Manesar, Guntur, and Kolkata that are addressing the problem of visual pollution. As cities explore new policies and eco-friendly alternatives, some still struggle with enforcement and environmental concerns. Are cleaner, more sustainable public spaces finally within reach or will illegal hoardings continue to dominate public spaces?

Hoardings could return, Source: Deccan Herald

This week, the Hubli-Dharwad MC intensified its drive to remove illegal political hoardings and posters, directing zonal assistant commissioners to expedite the removal process in their respective zones. Similar actions are being taken in other cities like Manesar, Guntur, Kolkata, Siliguri, and Panjim.

City governments have the primary responsibility for regulating hoardings as specified in their respective municipal statutes. This is of utmost importance since hoardings have the potential to generate significant revenue through taxes and leasing those spaces to private entities for advertisements and promotions.

Despite the potential revenue generated, cities today are plagued with illegal flexes and hoardings that pollute public and private spaces. To tackle the problem of visual pollution caused by illegal hoardings and banners, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has recently introduced an advertisement policy. The policy includes demarcating “green zones” and “no advertisement zones” in historically significant areas of the city and on dilapidated buildings.

Illuminated hoardings back in Trichy, Source: Times of India (Dec 23,2022)

Cities such as Thane and Pimpri Chinchwad have established helplines to allow citizens to report unauthorised hoardings, while the Guntur civic body has directed a special drive to remove illegal hoardings and prepare an action plan for geo-tagging and QR coding of all hoardings.

Moreover, the Solan MC has imposed a penalty of 1.5 cr. on advertisers who illegally placed hoardings in public spaces.

Outdoor advertising tools also add to the burden of plastic pollution, as they are made from non-biodegradable PolyVinyl Carbon. Disposing of these used flexes involves either sending them to landfills or burning them, posing environmental and health hazards.

To address this issue, Bangalore-based Universal Products has developed EcoSigns, a 100% biodegradable and recyclable flex material.

By implementing sustainable alternatives and enforcing regulations, cities can ensure that their public and private spaces remain visually appealing, contributing to citizens’ well-being and quality of life.

Does your city have a policy to control illegal hoardings and banners?

• Yes
• No

Read more about Hubli-Dharwad here.