Gurugram's Clean-Up Drive: RWAs Under Fire for Pervasive Illegal Ads

Gurugram, the millennium city, often lauded for its gleaming infrastructure and rapid development, has long grappled with a persistent blight marring its urban landscape: illegal advertisements. From unauthorized hoardings to sprawling banners, these visual intrusions not only deface public spaces but also pose a significant challenge to the city's aesthetic appeal.

Now, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) is taking decisive and stern action, turning its focus directly on the very bodies entrusted with maintaining local communities – the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs).

In a major crackdown, the MCG has issued show-cause notices to over 100 RWAs across the city.

These notices demand immediate explanations for the proliferation of illegal advertisements displayed within their premises or on adjacent public land. The move comes as part of the MCG's relentless efforts to enforce the Haryana Urban Local Bodies (Advertisement) Policy, 2018, which strictly governs all forms of outdoor advertising.

According to MCG officials, many RWAs have been generating revenue by allowing commercial entities to erect hoardings and banners without obtaining the necessary permits from the corporation.

This practice not only circumvents official regulations but also deprives the city of legitimate revenue while contributing to visual pollution. The policy clearly stipulates that all advertisements, regardless of their nature, must adhere to specific guidelines and require prior approval, along with the payment of prescribed fees.

The consequences for defaulting RWAs are severe.

Failure to provide a satisfactory response to the show-cause notices within the stipulated timeframe could lead to hefty penalties, including the registration of First Information Reports (FIRs) against the RWA office bearers. Furthermore, the MCG is authorized to remove these illegal advertisements at the RWA's expense, adding to their financial burden.

This underscores the corporation's commitment to ensuring compliance and maintaining urban order.

This isn't the first time the issue of illegal advertisements has surfaced. The MCG has previously conducted extensive surveys, identifying thousands of unauthorized advertising sites across Gurugram.

Despite continuous drives to remove them, new illegal displays often reappear, highlighting the need for a more systemic and punitive approach. By targeting RWAs, the MCG aims to address the problem at a more localized and accountable level, pushing for community-led adherence to urban planning norms.

Officials emphasize that the current drive is not merely about revenue generation but about restoring the city's visual integrity and ensuring a cleaner, more organized urban environment for its residents.

The corporation urges all RWAs to promptly comply with the advertisement policy, remove any unauthorized displays, and seek proper permissions for any future advertising initiatives to avoid legal repercussions and contribute to Gurugram's vision of a well-regulated and aesthetically pleasing city.