Are political hoardings here to stay?

BANGALORE: Close to a dozen hoardings of the newly elected Mayor has mushroomed on the city walls. The huge cut outs and hoardings not only deface the city’s beauty but also pose a serious threat to two-wheeler riders. Whether it was during the launch of Namma Metro or the BJP leader L K Advani’s visit to the city, the politicians who educate people on a regular basis to keep the city clean are indulging in such self-promotional campaigns. It has been more than 20 days since the new Mayor was elected, but the hoardings are still there, reminding everyone that a new Mayor has come to power.The cutouts, flex banners and hoardings put up in every nook and corner of Bangalore also block the movement of public in walkways. “Whenever there is a festival, many people claiming to be local leaders put up huge cutouts, prominently featuring their photographs along with senior political party leaders. On many occasions, they block the movement of people as the hoardings are placed on footpaths,” says S Lokesh, a taxi driver.Many a times, these huge hoardings, displaying photographs and names of politicians, are put up without getting the permission of the licensing authority. “Even though Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been strict in enforcing the provisions of the Karnataka Open Places (Preservation of Disfigurement) Act, cut outs are fixed illegally. Though political parties get permission to put up banners before an event, they hardly show any interest to remove them later,” says Sarojini Naidu, social worker from Janaagraha, an NGO.The hoardings of the new Mayor were put up across the city with BBMP symbol on them. However, when City Express spoke to BBMP Commissioner Shankaralinge Gowda M K, he opined, “The political parties have put up those posters and not the BBMP. However, we will ensure that they are removed soon.” BBMP will also book cases, fines and prosecute the offenders.A press release by the BBMP stated that the newly elected Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy has issued  a three-day deadline to the officials concerned to strictly remove illegal banners, cutouts, hoardings and buntings.