Excuse me, Mayor! Why Allow Flex Banners of MLC, MLA, Deputy Mayor..?

Excuse me, Mayor! Why Allow Flex Banners of MLC, MLA, Deputy Mayor..?

“Even after we have given several warnings, people are ignoring our warnings and still displaying flex boards and banners. A few weeks ago Mangaluru City Corporation had conducted a drive for the removal of flexes and banners within its limits, but unfortunately, people are still continuing this practice without seeking MCC’s permission. This will be our final warning, since we will definitely take stringent action against those who display banners and flex boards in future”-Mayor Kavitha Sanil.

Mangaluru: “Even after we have given several warnings, people are ignoring our warnings and still displaying flex boards and banners. A few weeks ago Mangaluru City Corporation had conducted a drive for the removal of flexes and banners within its limits, but unfortunately, people are still continuing this practice without seeking MCC’s permission. This will be our final warning since we will definitely take stringent action against those who display banners and flex boards in future”-Mayor Kavitha Sanil. Well said by the Mayor, but I want to ask her a question-“Why allow flex banners of politicians, MLA’s, MLC, even MCC Deputy Mayor to be displayed and no action taken against them. Laws should be equal for everyone, irrespective of caste, Fewreligion, etc etc. Why also allow religious banners to be displayed- this will create confusion among others when they want to display their banners”. But compare to other Mayors we had so far, Mayor Kavitha is doing much better in her actions solving most of the civic issues so far- but she still needs to be more strict!

It happens once very month or once every few months, that the officials of the Mangaluru City Corporation decide and go on a rampage to bring down all the illegal hoardings/banners etc that are hanged/erected in various prominent spots in the city, not to mention the busy Hampankatta Circle. Why is MCC taking all this trouble every month or months to remove these hoardings/banners which costs money and workers time on the expenses of tax payers? Why can’t MCC strictly enforce the rule and fine heavily those who had erected the hoardings/banners? If strict action is not taken, these hoardings/banners will appear again and again- and MCC has to bring them down again and again- which is foolishness and waste of time and money.

A few weeks ago there was a big drama, where MCC officials finally woke up and along with the workers went around the city to remove all illegal, banners. But within couple of days, more banners were again put up- including those of politicians, MLA, MLC, and even flex banner of MCC Deputy Mayor (displayed near Nanthoor Junction) congratulating him on his post- also religious festivals, movies, school/college admissions, etc etc. So it doesn’t make any sense to remove the banners one day, and within few days more banners are put up- and once again MCC has to do the clean up job.

Most of the illegal banners carry advertisements of private enterprises, including those of fast foods, food products, coaching institutes, mobile phone companies, Astrologers, religious functions, cultural shows, congratulating politicians, motor vehicles and jewellers. In spite of the repeated warning by MCC, those who put the hoardings illegally have failed to remove it. Many a times, organizations and agencies are involved in sticking the handouts on either side of the road and on electric poles, thus disfiguring the roadside and electric pole. The best way to stop all this nonsense is to issue notices to all those who had erected hoardings illegally in the city and cases should be filed under Prevention of Disfigurement Act. If not this practice will go on for ever- and MCC has to remove these banners for ever.

MCC needs to first sensitize people, but also subsequently take action against those violating the rule. A similar drive should be initiated in the remote areas too. It might be recalled that there were cases of accidents because of banners and publicity material on main roads that sometimes disrupted the view of motorists. The illegal hoardings, banners pitched indiscriminately along the road are causing nuisance. They cause inconvenience to the general public. Many of these hoardings and banners are put up in gross violation of civic sense and also the civic law.

Many a time, those who put up the banners, board, do not remove the banners after the function or programme gets over. Clearing such banners are a great headache for the Corporation. If MCC authorities fail to stop putting up of banners and hoardings without proper license, then all their efforts for the beautification of the City will go futile. It is also learnt that some people take permission for certain numbers of banners/hoardings, but they display more banners/hoardings that they paid for. Not just today, MCC should have such drives constantly so that the city is free from illegal and way too many banners that ruin the beauty of the City.