CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Outdoor Advertising Association, comprising 49 advertising agencies in Chennai, appealed to the State Government to regulate the hoardings industry in the city rather than go on an all-out demolition drive.

Referring to State Electricity Minister Arcot N. Veerasamy's recent statement that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had envisioned a "hoarding-free city," the Association members said authorised hoardings provided an affordable form of advertising and was a regular source of income for the government. A decision to totally remove all hoardings would lead to a loss of income for several families dependant on the industry.

Unauthorised operators

The Association secretary A.G. Nayakam said hoarding owners were shocked to read Mr. Veerasamy's statement that he was removing four of his family-owned hoardings in response to Chief Minister's vision of seeing a hoarding-free city.

He pointed out that hoardings were present in other metros and major cities but the one difference was the other governments had regulated them. "It is our wish too that the government regularises the industry. Much of the bad reputation for the industry stems from the unauthorised operators."

The Association said as per the records of the Chennai Collectorate, 1,291 hoardings had come up in the city between June 2001 and December 2006.

The Supreme Court had passed an order, asking the government to regulate the hoardings industry by issuing licences and maintain a "status quo" till the applications for licences were scrutinised and disposed of. Mr. Nayagam said that it was clear that the 1,291 hoardings in the Collectorate list would be deemed illegal straight away.

"However the officials have not really targeted them consistently," he added.

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