Hoardings in cantt areas on rise due to PCB inaction: Residents
These hoardings have proliferated over several land plots including military areas under the PCB, especially in the last few months, citizens said, adding that the last action against such hoardings was taken in Sept 2023 by the Defence Estates Office.
This inaction has supported the violators to continue their activities, they said.
On May 28, PCB issued a public notice asking violators to remove their hoardings before June 15. The notice reads, "Any incident/mishap causing loss to the safety and security of any general public and property due to the hoarding erected, firm, organisation/individual will be solely responsible for the same."
Citizens said the board should have removed these hoardings in the last two years.
"It is a matter of safety for residents of the cantonment and commuters. These hoardings are made from tonnes of iron. Their structural audit is not done. At some places, they are looming over the roads. With gusty winds and rain, the structures become weaker and chance of collapse increases," said Rajabhau Chavan, an activist.
Many asked how such hoardings could be erected despite sensitive defence establishments, including Southern Command headquarters, in the vicinity.
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"The cantonment should conduct a survey to identify such structures and remove them on priority. They can apply high charges against the violators," said Asif Shaikh.
"The board conducts auctioning once every two years and earns revenue of over Rs 50 lakh. But there are private ad agencies that have been exploiting the cantonment land for the last few years. They charge high rates but the defence estates agencies don't earn anything. It is a big scam," said activist Murtuza Poonawala.
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