CALANGUTE: Calangute Panchayat on Thursday removed 100 illegal signboards in its clearance drive against illegalities such as glow boards, hoardings and other signages along the main road.
These illegal signboards are kept in a place where the panchayat stores all the scrap. The drive kicked-off last week following complaints from the locals of several illegal glow boards and other signboards being set up in the village and demanded their immediate removal. Calangute ZP member Dattaprasad Dabolkar is playing a key role in this clearance drive. Calangute sarpanch Shawn Martin informed that these boards are not only an eyesore but also cause inconvenience to the public. Most of the shops, restaurants and eateries have set up more than one board for the purpose of advertisement.
“We are in the process of removing and confiscating all such boards and hoardings that have been put up without necessary permissions. There are certain restaurants that have put up more than one board. Some have their rates, cuisine and food pictures displayed. All these are being removed and anything that is obstructing the footpath is discarded. In the first phase we are clearing only those along the main road,” Martin added.
“With the influx of tourists in the coastal belt the driver of vehicle engaged in picking up these illegal boards is finding it difficult to halt at various places. Due to the traffic congestion and inconvenience caused to locals, the drive will end on Friday but will resume in the New Year,” he added.
