Tamil Nadu   

Power supply to illuminated hoardings to be stopped

Special Correspondent

AAI alleges that existence of these high-resolution hoardings was dangerous to air safety operations

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered the disconnection of power supply to all illuminated high-resolution hoardings located between Kathipara Junction and Pallavaram with immediate effect.

A direction to this effect was given by the First Bench comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice K. Chandru on Thursday, when petitions from the Airport Authority of India and the Tamil Nadu Outdoor Advertising Association came up for hearing.

The Judges said, "We direct the Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) to forthwith disconnect the electricity supply to all the hoardings located on the stretch from Kathipara Junction to Pallavaram on National Highway 45."

They also stipulated that counsel for the TNEB file an Action Taken Report before the court at 10.30 a.m. on Friday. They made it clear that no hoarding-owner should use generator or any such device to illuminate their hoardings until further orders.

The Greater Chennai Commissioner of Police and the Kancheepuram District Collector were directed to ensure that the direction was complied with "forthwith." The Bench then posted the matter to September 14 for further proceedings.

The matter relates to a writ petition filed by the AAI alleging that the existence of the high-resolution hoardings between Kathipara Junction and Pallavaram was dangerous to air safety operations. Several pilots have registered the problem and requested immediate action, it said.

Despite several warnings from pilots and various international aviation organisations, the local administration did not remove hazardous structures or deny renewal of licence, it contended.

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