GHMC fines Lalitha Jewelry, Touch Mobiles for illegal LED displays

Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has fined several establishments in the city for using moving LED displays in their showrooms. On 9 March the municipal body penalised at least four commercial establishments in and around Kukatpally and the JNTU area for illegal LED displays.

Lalitha Jewellery near KPHB and Mangalya Shopping Mall in JNTU were among the commercial establishments that were fined. Both have been asked to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000. Meanwhile, Touch Mobiles in Kukatpally was fined Rs. 25,000 and Vigneshwara Silks in JNTU was fined Rs. 10,000.

Speaking to NewsMeter, V. Mamatha, zonal commissioner of Kukatpally, said the commercial establishments had put up moving LED advertisements without the permission of the commissioner, which is illegal. “As per Sections 420 and 421 of the HMC Act, 1955, sky-signs and advertisements with electric displays cannot be erected, retained, or fixed without the permission of the commissioner,” she said.

The complaint was registered by Sai Teja, vice-president of the organisation Forum Against Corruption (FAC). “Even though today is a holiday, civic officials conducted raids and imposed fines. This is an example that other government officials should emulate,” he said.

LED lights can distract people driving on the roads which may cause fatal accidents. Last year during Diwali, the GHMC had stopped South India Shopping Mall and Unlimited in Kukatpally from setting up flashy LED lights. A Chennai Silks showroom in Moosapet was also fined Rs. 20,000 in October for installing illegal LED lights.