Not Smart! Damaging Public Property to Put Up Illegal Flex Hoardings of Festivities
Not Smart! Damaging Public Property to Put Up Illegal Flex Hoardings of Festivities. Laws should be equal-irrespective of religion (Christian, Hindu or Muslim) or politics.
Mangaluru : It’s once again that time of the year where Smart City-Mangaluru gets adorned with hundreds of small and large flex hoardings during the time of Dasara festivity that takes place in town. In spite of Mangaluru City Corporation Mohammed Nazeer’s stern warning that those who put up illegal flex banners, irrespective of caste or religion, political or religious institutions, that criminal charges will be filed against them- but it seemed like it was just a warning and not really enforced, because following Commissioner’s orders there were bunch of flex hoardings of our netas displayed all over the city, especially at the prominent Hampankatta junction/circle.
Few days ago, after the new MCC Commissioner was appointed, MCC had once again made an announcement that action will be taken against those who put up illegal flex banners, but seems like it was just a joke. Just look around the City, huge cut outs/flex hoardings are seen at prominent spots, and MCC has turned a blind eye against it. Showing religious sentiments towards such hoardings/banners, MCC has remained quite without taking any action. So why even bother to give orders and don’t enforce them.
Why can’t religious festivities be celebrated without hoardings/banners and also fire crackers-which go against environment rules. We see this during Hindu, Muslim and Christian festivals, that all these illegal publicity come up, which not only ruin the beauty of the so called “Smart City” but also violate the laws enforced by the government. But does anyone care about it? Absolutely NO! Forget about putting up these illegal publicity materials, the workers are damaging the newly constructed footpaths, medians and roads, by digging to erect these hoardings. Does anyone use common sense in doing such a ignorant work? Every individual needs to have love towards the City they live in- whether they are Hindus, Christians or Muslims.
It is citizens hard earned tax money that goes to repair roads and footpaths, and these ignorant people ruin them by digging them. Footpaths are mandatory for each individual to walk on, but they have been totally abused from all communities for their short term benefit. Even the plants on the road dividers have been damaged while putting up these hoardings. Footpaths have been dug up to put poles to hang decorative bulbs- this is just a beginning, and within a few days when Dasara approaches near, we’ll see a bunch of such illegal activity, where roads and footpaths will be damaged to erect these flex hoardings.
Even these huge hoardings are safety hazard for motorists and pedestrians- recently a hoarding fell on a auto-rickshaw near Nanthoor circle, but luckily no one was injured. We also heard about the news that a hoarding fell on a two-wheeler rider, resulting in her fall, and a bus running over killing her on the spot. So are we waiting for many more such incidents to take place that take away peoples lives, just because we want to show off about our festivities or other occasions through illegal hoardings. Bah humbug!
With political parties or for that matter, even religious institutions, showing no restraint in digging up pits on roads and pavements for putting up banners, hoardings and cut outs in the city, the officials of MCC have taken any action against such violators, who are damaging public property. Those responsible for causing damage to roads by putting up banners and hoardings should immediately remove the same, but who will take the responsibility. Though the Corporation had announced some months back that banners, hoardings and cut-outs should be put only in select places during selected time for a short period, but political parties, religious institutions and other organizations continue to flout the rule.
While pits have been dug up on roadsides in some places, pavements have been targeted in several other places for putting up temporary bamboo structures to support the hoardings or cut-outs. This practice has been continuing despite strong views expressed by various social organizations in the city. In the absence of stringent punishment, the practice continues unabated. ‘It is on a spree of late. Even tiles on the pavements have been dug up near the Lady Hill Circle, on Alake road near Kudroli Temple, Hampankatta circle, to name a few, for putting up hoardings and banners for every other event. Besides damaging public infrastructure, the hoardings are a public menace as they divert the attention of motorists. Why is the law enforcement authorities quite in this regard, when they are quick to make few bucks in slapping enormous fines on motorists. They should also look at the safety of the motorists that these hoardings create.
Those who have put up the structures should immediately remove the same by themselves. If they fail to do so, the Corporation in coordination with the police should remove them without prior notice. Legal action should also be initiated against the violators- but will it materialize is the BIG question mark? Even though the law says that damaging public property is illegal and punishable with hefty fines or jail term, but hardly MCC nor the district administration nor police department take action as per these laws. So who will look into such issues, is something that our Smart City officials are yet to figure out, I suppose?
