SC unhappy with KMC, cantt boards’ progress on removal of billboards

Warns of contempt proceedings against chiefs if court orders not implemented

KARACHI: The Supreme Court (SC) expressed its dissatisfaction on Wednesday over the progress made by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and the cantonment boards in removing billboards from greenbelts and footpaths.

A two-member bench of the apex court, comprising justices Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Gulzar Ahmed, warned of proceedings against the heads of these civic bodies if they failed to implement the court's directives to clear these spaces of the sign-boards within two weeks.

At the outset of the proceedings, the law officers submitted reports on behalf of the Karachi, Clifton, Faisal and Korangi cantonment boards and the KMC regarding implementation of the court's earlier directives to remove such hoardings from footpaths and greenbelts.

Compliance report

The report submitted on behalf of Faisal cantonment board's chief executive officer claimed that 93 illegal signboards were installed within its jurisdictions. These billboards are spread over land owned by multiple stakeholders, such as 31 on Pakistan Navy land, 33 on Civil Aviation Authority's land, 26 on Station Headquarters' land, two on land belonging to the Pakistan Air Force and one on Pakistan Railways land.

The court was informed that 14 such illegal signboards have been removed from Karsaz and 10 from Rashid Minhas Road.

Unhappy bench

The two judges expressed their dissatisfaction over the performance of the metropolitan corporation and the cantonment boards. Justice Ahmed asked the authorities whether or not the city can run without such massive hoardings.

The bench head, Justice Jamali, told the officers that huge signboards, measuring 20 by 60 feet, have been installed on the city's main arteries that had in the past resulted in many deaths during heavy rains and storms. "It would be better to fix advertisements on the forehead of citizens and to make them stand along the roads," remarked the apex court judge.

The bench members reprimanded the authorities for not implementing the court's directives in letter and spirit. "The city had been defaced by installing huge and massive signboards. Should we also wear advertisements on our faces?" the judges questioned again.

Looking at the poor state of affairs, the apex court observed that all these giant hoardings that have been erected along the thoroughfares and the footpaths are illegal. Earlier, trees were chopped down to install hoardings and now the same were being affixed between the poles, the bench added. The judges ordered the authorities to remove such hoardings within two weeks and submit a compliance report in court. It also warned that the heads of these civic bodies will be summoned personally and contempt proceedings will be initiated against them if they fail to implement the court's directives by the next hearing.

Skin city

Division of illegal billboards

The 93 illegal signboards in the jurisdiction of Faisal Cantonment fall under land belonging to the following bodies:

Pakistan Navy                                31

Civil Aviation Authority                 33

Station Headquarters                    26

Pakistan Air Force                           2

Pakistan Railways                           1

Source: Report submitted by Faisal Cantonment board in court

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2015.