BBMP now sets January 15 deadline for Kannada nameboards

BENGALURU: Kannada activists went on the rampage last week, vandalising English nameboards of commercial establishments and demanding the use of Kannada nameboards in all commercial establishments. Though there is directive from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for using 60 per cent Kannada language name boards, many business establishments in the city have violated the rules.

The BBMP has now started issuing notices to business establishments and managers on use of Kannada in nameboards and set January 15 as the deadline. The civic body has warned of legal action if the nameboards are not changed.

The BBMP had not issued notices or taken action against those were not using Kannada nameboards and due to the negligence of the city corporation, businesses and owners of commercial establishments had not taken it seriously. After the massive protest by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), the Palike has now started issuing notices to many businesses establishments, including shopping complexes, malls, hotels, pubs and bars in Bengaluru.

The BBMP is warning them to have 60 per cent Kannada on their nameboards by January 15. The state government has said that there should be a Kannada nameboards by February 28 and has instructed the civic body to take action against violators.

Following the government order, the BBMP has started serving notices in many places, including Dasarahalli, West, South and East zones. According to a source, about 300 notices have been issued to commercial establishments so far.