If We Can Spot Illegal Flex Hoardings/Banners, Why Can’t MCC?

If We Can Spot Illegal Flex Hoardings/Banners, Why Can’t MCC?

Seems like “We don’t practice what we preach” when it comes to the Mayor and officials of MCC. During the phone-in programme with the Mayor that’s happening this morning, I would like to pose three questions- 1) About illegal Street Vendors 2) About Illegal Flex Banners/Hoardings 3) About the bunch of mobile canteens that are not hygienic- hope her phone lines won’t be busy??.

Mangaluru: Seems like “We don’t practice what we preach”, when it comes to the Mayor and officials of MCC. During the phone-in programme with the Mayor that’s happening this morning, I would like to pose three questions – 1) About illegal Street Vendors 2) About Illegal Flex Banners/Hoardings 3) About the bunch of mobile canteens that are not hygienic- hope her phone lines won’t be busy??. Probably I am the most hated person by the MCC because of all the civic issues that I’ve been highlighting through our non-bias website, the one and only-“Mangalorean.com”. But that’s okay with me- I am just trying to be nice, in finding out what needs to be rectified in the City, which happens to be one of the “Smart City” of India- but unfortunately, certain things are not working in the right direction. Even though the Mayor had issued strict orders that those who erect illegal flex hoardings/banners, action would be taken against them- but seems like nothing has been happening. The more the illegal hoardings/banners that MCC takes them down, more and more come up?

Just look at the Hampankatta Circle/Junction- it seems like an “Advertisement/Publicity Corner” for FREE- with a bunch of flex hoardings pertaining to films, religious celebrations, political happenings, Yakshagana etc- the whole beauty of the City has been spoiled. Even though the Mayor had promised to take action against those who put up these hoardings- I bet she won’t- because bunch of the hoardings among these belong to politicians of the Congress Kind? With a Congress party at the helm of MCC, how can they allow they break the law. Once again, they follow the motto “We Don’t Practice What We Preach”- I guess. Just look at all the hoardings/banners that are “beautifying” the City- and the pictures were taken only at certain locations in town- there could be more.

But seems like no one is adhering to these rules, even the elected representatives of Mangaluru City Corporation have been defying the law. Apart from dozens of banners and hoardings that are seen all over the city, among them are flex hoardings/banners congratulating newly elected congress youth leaders etc. How is this possible? It looks like MCC officials, members of temple management committees, Yakshagana programmes, religious events in the central business district area, plus private businesses-Companies, Summer Camp ads, admission to schools, mobile companies etc are mocking the “smartness” of the city. This is not “Smart” for an upcoming “Smart City”-Mangaluru!

Seems like there is a hoarding/billboard/banner epidemic in Mangaluru! At every nook and corner of the city, you will see illegal hoardings or banners advertising about school admissions, opening of a showroom or shifting of a supermarket, concert or beach party announcements, conventions or public gathering announcements etc etc- and the funny part is that none of these have permission from the Mangaluru City Corporation to put them up. Then why is MCC not doing anything about this illegal practice, which is losing revenue due to these free advertising.

MCC should keep the drive continuous against banned flexes. On the other hand, though the government has also banned plastic bags, plastic plates, plastic cups, plastic spoons, cling film and plastic sheets for spreading on dinning table, irrespective of thickness they were widely being used in the city without the fear of legal action. So what’s the use of these rules/laws if no one follows them, and in the same time, no action is taken by the concerned authorities when people defy these rules.

Court orders, MCC advertising laws, strict directives and an exhaustive list of Dos and Don’ts notwithstanding, the menace of rickety and illegal hoardings continues to haunt Mangaloreans. Adding to the concern is a load of unlawful advertising boards, hoardings, flexes and uni-poles that continue to exist, despite MCC’s rules and regulations on outdoor advertising. Probably MCC has no count of illegal hoardings in the city and is doing nothing to stop it. Apart from display of flex hoardings, MCC has not taken any action against businesses still using plastic bags for packing groceries or other items.

Currently, the main areas flaunting’ these hoardings include Hampankatta Circle, Clock Tower Circle, Kankanady Pumpwell, Bunts Hostel Circle, Jyothi Circle, Lady Hill Circle, MG Road, among others. Most of these advertisers are yet to follow the norms. As per court ruling, these hoardings are “hazardous to traffic”. But the problem with MCC is that they will get into action for one day and remove all the illegal hoardings, and thereafter for a month or two months they keep quite.

Illegal Street Vendors/Illegal Mobile Canteens

MCC needs to ban these illegal hoardings-areas are to be designated as “no-hoardings zones”. Strict action should be taken against those breaking the laws. All hoardings that compromise road safety are to be removed, especially those at Hampankatta Circle. MCC should launch a drive to remove all illegal billboards immediately, and also warn about fines if hoardings are erected illegally. MCC should remove hoardings from city junctions as they are a hazardous to traffic. In any case hoardings/flex banners, whether legal or illegal, should not be allowed to deface natural beauty, the city’s skyline, or cause safety hazards. No-hoarding zones is the need of the hour!

MCC should remove hoardings from city junctions as they are a hazardous to traffic. In any case hoardings/flex banners, whether legal or illegal, should not be allowed to deface natural beauty, the city’s skyline, or cause safety hazards. No-hoarding zones is the need of the hour!