Drive against illegal hoardings

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Oct. 12: In a bid to generate more revenue from advertisement agencies and make English Bazaar a clean town, the English Bazaar civic body, with support from the police, removed hundreds of “unauthorised” hoardings from the town today. The civic body chief, Mr Narendra Nath Tiwari, said the drive would continue for some more days. “We will not compromise with those who failed to deposit his dues on time,” Mr Tiwari, said.“Some advertisement agencies have continued paying Rs 20 as rent for a hoarding, a rate effected in 1972. More than three decades have passed since the rate was introduced. The ground realities have changed now and we are not in a position to continue with the old policy,” Mr Tiwari, said. The civic body has also decided to launch a drive against unauthorised rickshaws in the town. “Without registration and identity card, no rickshaw puller will be allowed to operate in the town,” Mr Tiwari, said. The civic body is also planning to launch a drive against the encroachers under the “clean city” project. If the planning materialises, a large number of shops would be demolished in the town. A few temporary shops, set up in front of the Malda Muslim Institute, where UTI Bank is planning to open its branch soon, would be demolished, Mr Tiwari, said.