Illegal billboards, marring the beauty of Jamshedpur and often triggering traffic snarls, may soon be things of the past.

A task force, drawn from the three urban local bodies in the steel city following a recent directive of East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amitabh Kaushal, began dismantling unauthorised hoardings in Mango notified area on Thursday and will soon follow up the action in Jamshedpur notified area and pockets under Jugsalai Municipality.

The crackdown, which began around noon and continued till 3.30pm, saw Dimna Road and the NH-33 stretch between Dimna Road and Pardih roundabout being cleared of more than 10 illegal hoardings. "We will continue the drive on other arteries of Mango this week," said special officer of Mango Notified Area Committee (MNAC) Jagadish Yadav.

The official added that they would initiate cases against advertisers under the Bihar Prevention of Defacement of Property Act (1985) if hoardings were reinstalled at these locations.

The state urban development department had adopted the Bihar Act since Jharkhand was created in 2000. Under the Act, offenders can be jailed for six months and may face a fine up to Rs 50,000.

Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC) special officer Dipak Sahay said they would conduct their crackdown jointly with Tata Steel and its subsidiary Jusco.

"In our command areas, the drive will begin by mid-February. We will start cases against advertisers/companies/institutions whose names are found written on the hoardings since we have already warned them several times in the past," Sahay added.

Deputy commissioner Kaushal said illegal billboards not only cluttered the city skyline, but also increased the risk of accidents because they blocked vision of both motorists and pedestrians.

"The drive will be carried out across the city and till we get rid of every unauthorised advertisement," he said.