Hoarding row in court

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, June 10 : A tug of war between the Roads and Buildings department and the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority over sharing the income generated from signboards on Madhapur road has reached the AP High Court.
The court expressed its anguish over the "unnecessary confrontation" between the two government agencies over money sharing.
Janhita Publicities Private Limited and See More Communications Private Limited filed writ petitions in the court stating that the R&B department had granted permission to them to install vertical signages at road medians from Gachibowli to Nanakramguda junction and from Kondapur cross road to Gachibowli junction on lease of Rs 2,550 per each board.
The petitioners stated that they have set up the boards after obtaining permission from the GHMC. They, however , some other parties trying to install sign boards with the connivance of the HUDA officials.
Justice N V Ramana asked the counsel for HUDA to inform who had granted permission to other parties to set up sign boards.
Mr Dhanunjaya, the counsel for the HUDA, said the HUDA is looking after the maintenance of the road.
The judge said "maintaining of road means you have a power to sell away the road".
Justice Ramana said he will direct the registry to book a criminal case against the officer concerned (HUDA) to third parties to install sign boards.
The court directed the advocate general to convene a meeting of both the departments and solve the issue amicably by Friday.
Unofficial respondents should not put up or remove the sign boards on the road untill further orders are issued, directed the court on Tuesday.