Bengaluru: Mayor N. Shantakumari on Friday took civic officials to task for their lackadaisical attitude regarding in removal of unauthorised hoardings across the city and set a 15-day deadline to complete the task.

The Mayor gave this ultimatum in the wake of a letter from the Upa Lokayukta asking her to take stern action against those violating the rules.

Addressing the zonal commissioners, assistant revenue officers and other advertisement department officials concerned, the Mayor said the city should get rid of illegal hoardings and flexes. She warned to take stern action if action was not taken to remove all the illegal hoardings dotting the city.

“Two months after I sought information on illegal hoardings the officials concerned are yet to submit the details. If they fail to remove all the illegal hoardings in the next 15 days I will write to the Upa Lokayukta asking them to take action against the advertisement department officials concerned,” she warned.

Shantakumari said that advertisement officials have expressed the need to have more workers to remove the hoardings. “As of now there are three agencies working towards removing the hoardings.

However, the advertisement department officials have said that it is not sufficient. They have requested to assign special squad for every zone. I have directed the Special Commissioner to hold a meeting with Commissioner regarding this,” she said.

Though the officials were aware of the defaulters, they were not taking action as many of them were hand-in-glove with defaulters, she alleged.

The Mayor also urged all the elected representatives to discourage hoardings and banners.