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Travel
News, November, 2008
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Advertisers spoiling natural beauty
in Himachal
by
Hemant Chauhan
Shimla:
Despite the ban by the Supreme Court on painting the
surface of rocks with advertisements and erecting hoardings
on national highways, advertisers have continued to violate
the directives. One can witness the blatant breach of
the apex court's directives on many hillocks and junctions
in the otherwise pristine countryside of Himachal Pradesh.
Several rocks painted colourfully with instructions and
advertising boards placed in different nooks and corners
of the state, welcome the visitors here. One can see the
violations particularly along the national highway 22
which crosses through the four districts of Solan, Shimla,
Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. Environmentalists
want the government to take any action against the violators
of rules. "Any kind of advertisement be it the erection
and pasting of banners or painting of advertisements on
the rocks or stones has been banned by the Supreme Court.
But one can still see these roadside advertisements for
which Government haven't taken any necessary step," said
R. S. Negi, one Environmentalist of Kinnaur Region. The
government claims to have taken serious note of these
violations and also about stern action being taken against
the violators of Supreme Court's directive. "We are coming
with the sensitising part. But it is not only about rock
painting or the posters pasted on the sides of the National
Highway. There are many bigger issues also which are related
to the environment. We are now coming out with a compact
programme of sensitisation of these issues that will include
this adverse advertisement issue also," said J. P. Nadda,
State Minister of Environment. Keeping in mind the environment
and natural virgin look of the area, Supreme Court showed
concern and imposed the ban on this kind of painting and
advertising. The ban had come into effect in 2003 after
the judges observed that the placement of boards and advertising
acts as distraction for vehicle drivers. The painting
on the rocks was stopped to preserve the beauty and environment
of the State.
-Nov
2, 2008
Leading
Indian News Papers
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