Seems like ‘Flex’ is Not ‘Flexible’ in Kudla! Activists Spray Paint Illegal Flex Boards in City
Mangaluru: In spite of various awareness projects/seminars/walkathon etc on using flex banners/hoardings in Mangaluru, and even after several warnings given by Mangaluru City Corporation, people are ignoring the warnings and still displaying flex boards and banners. Every now and then MCC conducts 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. But the problem is that the officials of the administration and politicians who make the laws and advise citizens not to go in for flex materials for advertising- however, they themselves are the culprits-who make use of flex for their advertisement purpose. Seems like the quote “We Don’t Practice What We Preach?”.
On the other hand, when MCC officials go on a drive to remove flex banners, having soft corner towards flex banners/hoardings displayed by religious institutions, are allowed to stay, while rest of the illegal banners are removed. But Laws should be equal for everyone, irrespective of caste, religion, etc etc. This will create confusion among others when they want to display their banners. Now that Mangaluru Dasara is approaching, the City will be decorated with large number of flex banners/hoardings- and we are seeing a few of them already up. Even Mangalore Diocese’s new Bishop who is a lover of green and clean environment, but during the Episcopal Ordination all the welcome/congratulations etc banners/hoardings displayed were all of flex materials. So also banners displayed by Muslim organization related to a big event happening in town about “Beary Basha”, even their banners are of flex.
On Sunday, there was a run to bring awareness on Alzheimer’s/Dementia disease, simultaneously there was a green walkathon to bring awareness on keeping environment Clean and Green- but in both the events, the banners/boards displayed about their project were of flex. Seems like on one side your trying to bring awareness on certain issues, and on the other hand you are breaking the rules. Also a hoarding displayed near a government office building highlighting about “Hasiru Karnataka Andolana” (Keeping Karnataka Green), but the hoarding is flex made. Also the ‘Swachh Bharath Abhiyan-Swachhta Hi Seva 2018’ organized by a local bank, the banners displayed are all of flex. (See photos in the article, which will explain better?)
So, the question lies here is that why even have laws/rules when no one follows it, and no one from the administration takes action against those who display such illegal advertisement materials. 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 hung/erected in various prominent spots in the city, not to mention the busy Hampankatta Circle-but within the next few days more flex banners come up at the same spots. 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. Seems like a drama every now and then?
All the above Banners/Hoardings are made of Flex Material
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.
While MCC officials were still fast asleep and not taking any action, a few activists/environmentalists couple of days ago took laws into their own hands, and sprayed black paint on the flex boards and hoardings which were illegal- and these banners pertained to the Students Union Council election, which also had photos of Congress leaders like former MLA J R Lobo, Ministers Gundu Rao and U T Khader, Congress Youth Leader Mithun Rai. The faces of all these politicians were spray painted black by these activists.
Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Shashidar Shetty, the Secretary of National Environment Care Federation said, “Our action was to give a wake up call to the politicians, in addition to educating citizens about the illegality of such advertisements. Just wondering whether the Supreme Court rulings and the laws of the land does not apply to politicians. Sadly, the Revenue Officer at MCC, Praveenchandra Karkera who was doing a good job in removing illegal banners/hoardings, but certain persons with vested interest got him transferred from here to Kalaburagi”.
“Even though MCC is saying that Karkera was transferred keeping in mind administrative interests, but its hard to believe. As of now, the position of Revenue Officer is still vacant. After Karkera was transferred, there seems to have no drives by MCC against MCC against illegal flex boards, at least not against flex banners/hoardings belonging to political leaders and their parties. We hope at least after our action that DC Sasikanth Senthil will look into this issue and initiate suitable action. We are hoping for the best. Mangaluru should be free of flex banners/hoardings. Period” added Shetty.
So what would be a permanent solution for this problem, where there is no end to it? First of all, 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. And that Politicians should PRACTICE what they PREACH?