Bengaluru: A writ petition has been filed in the state High Court (HC) demanding action by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the city police for removal of illegal banners, flex boards and other unauthorised hoardings in the city.

Petitioner Mayige Gowda, a resident of Saraswathipuram has alleged that no action had been taken by the police and BBMP officials in this direction. A vacation bench comprising justices K N Phaneendra and B Veerappa has issued notices to the department of urban development, BBMP and city police in response to the writ plea filed.

To reap benefits out of the advertisements “supari” amounts have been paid to organised network, which is behind the menace, the petitioner has alleged. There are estimated 23,000 illegal banners and flex boards in the city, blatantly violating the KARNATAKA OPEN PLACES (PREVENTION OF DISFIGUREMENT) ACT of 1981 and causing serious environmental damage, petitioner has alleged.

BBMP engineers in charge of protecting trees in the city express their inability to curb tree felling, petitioner rued, indicating such action amounted to giving free hand to the “mafia” involved in the illegal business. If some authorities initiate action, the people involved pay bribes to hoodwink law enforcing agencies and continue their activities fearlessly, petitioner cited.

Unfortunately, the KARNATAKA OPEN PLACES (PREVENTION OF DISFIGUREMENT) ACT of 1981 does not clearly specify the government agencies in charge of regulating the menace and hence pleaded the HC to issue a directive to the government to bring about amendments in the act to curb violations in future.