Statesman News Service
MALDA, Sept. 30: The Public Works department has sought help from the district magistrate to remove an "illegal construction" set up by an advertising agency even though the English Bazaar Municipality approved the project.
The iron frame for setting up a hoarding on either side of the flyover on four lanes of the National Highway 34 in English Bazaar town was erected without permission from the PWD (roads) or National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI), police said.
The executive engineer of the PWD (roads) informed the Malda district magistrate that neither any advertisement agency nor the English Bazaar Municipality sought permission from the department for permanent construction of the structure on the flyover owned by the PWD (Roads).
The officer in charge of traffic in English Bazaar town, Mr Ashim Gope said: “I objected to the construction at the beginning without the permission from the NHAI and the owner of the flyover. I allowed them at last when they showed a permission letter from English Bazaar Municipality”.
Mr Gope said the vision of drivers would be affected at night if the glowing sign reflects bright light.
The vice chairman of the English Bazaar Municipality, Mr Dulal Sarkar said: “The civic body does not need to seek permission from any other organisation for this purpose. The advertisement agency will seek permission from the concerned authorities if necessary.”
The civic body has made an agreement with the advertisement agencies wherein they will pay Rs. 40,000 per year for the project.
“We usually give permission to advertisement agencies for installation of hoarding in our jurisdiction to increase income of the civic body. Similarly, we gave permission to them for setting up a glow sign on the flyover,” Mr Sarkar said.
The Malda district magistrate Mr CR Das said: “The civic body is not the authority to give permission for construction on a flyover which is owned by the PWD (roads). We must look into the matter.”
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