Forest Dept Imposes Fine on Cila Advertisers for Pruning Branches blocking their Ad Hoarding
Mangaluru: One one hand Environmentalists and ministers plant trees to give greenery to the City, either during Vanamahotsava or World Environmental Day or could be any other day- but on the other hand, there are these advertisement companies that go ahead and prune or cut tree branches to make their advertising hoardings visible. Along with these people, there are workers of Mescom who also trim trees- for safety matter, when compared to the ad agency guys who go on a rampage pruning trees, for their benefit of their company and their advertisers. Bah humbug!
Once again local outdoor ad agency Cila Advertisers, Balmatta Road, Mangaluru has got into trouble with the social activists/environmentalists and Forest Department for pruning young tree branches, located opposite to Pabaas Ice Cream Parlour, Lalbagh, Mangaluru. In September of 2017, a case was booked against Cila Advertisers for trimming tree branches located in front of their ad hoardings in various locations, including one near Lad Hill, Mangaluru (Ref: Case Booked against Cila Advertising Co by Forest Dept for Pruning Tree Branches).
Now once again according to Shashidar Shetty, the State Secretary of National Environment Care Federation (NECF), who spoke to Team Mangalorean, and who has also posted a video on social media said, “Last night someone belonging to Cila Advertisers had pruned the top part of the young tree which was planted recently as part of Green Mangaluru. Since the growing leaves/branches were obstructing the hoarding of a car dealer, put up by Cila Advertisers, they cut the branches, without getting the permission from the concerned authorities. They have done such a thing in the past, and they are doing it again, for which we will take necessary action”.
In the video, you could hear Shashidar Shetty urging Cila Advertisers to plant two saplings at the spot where they had trimmed the branches, by this morning ( 9 November), if not the activists will blacken the hoardings in the City belonging to Cila, with ink- and it is a definite challenge. And this morning, in response, Cila had already planted two saplings in that location. And as per Shetty, the Forest Department has fined an amount up to Rs 10,000 for the violation.
Shashidar Shetty said, “Not only these advertising companies use flex on their hoardings which is banned, over that they are now trimming the green trees. which is condemnable by us. We will plan a meeting soon to decide about the future course of action. We will have to see that a tough stand is taken against these persons who commit such acts. It is sad to note that many of the environmentalists’ plant trees to give greenery to the city, and these miscreants destroy them eventually. Because of this, many environmentalists have stopped planting trees in the city, instead, they plant them in the outskirts of the City”.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Dinesh Holla, Convener of Sahyadri Sanchaya said, ” It is very hurtful when you see these trees without branches, some of the trees were planted recently. Most of these trees planted by us, are being taken care and watered regularly. But these ad companies and other miscreants are testing our patience by trimming or cutting down these trees which give clean air and oxygen”.
