Prohibition of erection of certain hoardings.

Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law for the time being in force, or in any judgment, decree or order of any court, tribunal or other authority,-- (a) (i) where any hoarding (other than traffic sign and road sign) visible to the traffic on the road is hazardous and disturbance to the safe traffic movement, so as to adversely affect free and safe flow of traffic and which is in existence immediately before the date of the commencement of the Tamil Nadu Municipal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2000 (hereafter in this section referred to as the amendment Act), the Commissioner shall, by notice in writing, require the licensee or any person in possession, of such hoarding, to remove such hoarding within such time as may be specified in the notice: Provided that such time shall not exceed fifteen days from the date of issue of such notice; (ii) where the hoarding referred to in sub-clause (i) is not removed within the time specified in the notice, the Commissioner shall, without further notice, remove such hoarding and recover the expenditure for such removal as an arrear of land revenue; (b) (i) where the Commissioner is satisfied that the erection of any hoarding (other than traffic sign and road sign) visible to the traffic on the road is hazardous and disturbance to the safe traffic movement so as to adversely affect free and safe flow of traffic, he shall not grant any licence under section 131 and no such hoarding shall be erected, on and from the date of the commencement of the amendment Act by any person; (ii) where any hoarding is erected in contravention of sub-clause (i), it shall be confiscated and removed by the Commissioner without any notice. Explanation.--For the purpose of this section, "hoarding" shall have the same meaning as in the Explanation under sub-section (9) of section 131.