Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 26: Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) today started intensive drive for removing 47 un-authorized hoardings installed by M/s Super Publicity Private Limited, in Ward Numbers 1 to 48, under the overall directions of Mandeep Kaur, Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation, Jammu. M/s Super Publicity possesses advertising rights only for Ward Numbers 49 to 71.
47 illegal sites of Super Publicity were removed. Their claim that these sites were allotted to them have no basis as no document was provided by them which could prove it. They have used space at the locations which were cancelled at their request of unavailability and in lieu of which alternate space was provided to them in Ward numbers 1 to 18.
Action by JMC was necessitated following a representation made by M/s Brite Neon Sign (P) Ltd, which has been awarded sole rights for advertisement in Ward Nos. 1 to 48 by JMC, its inability to install hoardings at the locations allotted to it due to encroachment of said locations by M/s Super Publicity.
The representatives of Super Publicity when called by JMC, stated that few of the sites allotted to them have come under road widening, needed to be replaced by new sites.
After going through the representation of Brite Neon Sign, the Commissioner JMC called a meeting on July 23 to verify the factual position from the record. After hearing Brite, a preliminary survey of these areas was conducted and photography of the sites was also done. It was found during survey that sites allotted to M/s Brite Neon were being used by some unknown persons and observations of Brite Neon Sign were found correct.
The original file was found missing from the office and the authenticated list of sites allotted to Super Publicity were not available in the office. From the regenerated file these facts came to the notice of JMC Commissioner.
It also came to the fore that Ward numbers 49 to 71 were allotted to Super publicity in 2012 for a period of 4 years for 20,000 sft area of advertisement sites. As original file has been found missing the advertisers says that list provided by them is authentic but that has no basis or source. Super represented that few of the sites have come under road widening and hence need to be replaced by new sites. Vide order dated 17-8-2013 these four sites were cancelled and nine new sites were given to them. The said order was duly signed by the office of JMC, hence could be relied upon.
Tender for Wards 1 to 48 was being failed in an organized manner for the past 2 years despite issuing tenders for 8 times, no bidder used to participate due to high rates while actually the entire space was being used by Super Publicity leaving a few sites with the JMC which used to be allotted at the rate of Rs 6/sft/day, which was so meager that no one wanted this tender to succeed.
JMC is going to hold a thorough inquiry and fix responsibility in this case of the official involved.
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