AROUND 1,000 rogue advertisements plastered around the Northern Governorate have been removed in the first six months of this year in a bid to tidy up the area.
The violations include advertisements illegally stuck on lampposts, as well as large billboards dangerously placed on the sides blocking the lines of vision for drivers.
Details were revealed by Northern Municipality director general Lamya Al Fadhala who said that the action taken was part of the ‘Beautiful and Clean’ initiative for the Northern Governorate.
“The campaigns against these violating advertisements are ongoing and they aim to create a generation that is fully aware of the importance of adhering to laws and conditions put in place to maintain the beauty and cleanliness of our neighbourhoods,” she said in an official statement.
“Illegally sticking up or installing advertisements has turned into a phenomenon which is a clear violation of the law.
“It is done by businesses and individuals. The laws are put in place to protect public interest and they must be implemented without exception.
“These random advertisements are causing visual pollution and they have increased in recent periods as there are many randomly and illegally installed advertisements on buildings and lampposts.
“This negatively impacts on the beauty of neighbourhoods as well as the civil image of the governorate and, as a municipality, we urge people to abide by the law and to co-operate with us.”
Ms Al Fadhala highlighted that the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry has organised a mechanism to licence advertisements in accordance with the 1973 Advertisements Law, the 2001 Municipalities Law and 2005 decision to regulate non-commercial advertisements.
Conditions
She added that these laws have specified conditions for advertising such as location, space, size and technical specifications, in addition to ensuring that they do not impact traffic movement or lines of vision.
“There are conditions in the law that regulate these advertisements so once a request is received a licence is issued by the directorate concerned with the conditions attached,” she added.
“People who would like to advertise must adhere to these conditions stipulated by law as placing them in violation of the regulations is dangerous as it can block lines of sight, impede traffic movement and cause accidents.”
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