Illegal vinyl posters deface “not so Smart Karimnagar City”
K M Dayashankar
MCK remains a mute spectator when pollution causing vinyl posters are erected in the entire town
KARIMNAGAR: Despite a ban on the erection of illegal vinyl posters and hoardings in public places and roads, the local bodies’ representatives and other organisations and firms have been competing to erect the flexi posters to greet the people on the occasion of Dasara festivities.
The leaders of various political parties including the ruling party have competed in erecting the posters and banners to show their presence felt at the Bathukamma and Dasara festivities in each and every locality and main roads causing nuisance and eyesore to the residents. Ironically, the leaders have put up posters greeting the people right from Bathukamma, Dasara and the ensuing Diwali festival. It means the posters would be displayed in the town illegally till the completion of the Diwali festival.
The vinyl posters, along with causing nuisance and traffic obstructions, have become a cause of concern because of increasing pollution due to the use of plastic. The illegal posters during the festivities and other occasions have been further defacing the image of the “not so Smart city”. Along with the local leaders, the traders doing various businesses and community leaders have also put up banners and posters causing pollution and nuisance in the town.
Minister for IT and Municipal Administration K Taraka Rama Rao had issued stipulated guidelines banning the pollution causing vinyl posters in the state. Incidentally, the Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar had also, as part of its drive against the plastic in the town, warned the people of penal action if found setting up pollution causing vinyl posters.
But everything goes for a toss in Karimnagar town as the ruling TRS leaders are ahead of others in flouting the norms by erecting the illegal posters and defacing the town on the occasion of the festival. Unauthorised posters put by the political and caste outfits continue to be put at road corners and junctions in all the 60 municipal divisions of “Not so smart Karimnagar city”.
The erection of illegal vinyl posters during the festivals and the arrival of VIPs had become the order of the day in Karimnagar. The district authorities give clear instructions not to erect vinyl posters or hoardings in public places, but no one really cares. “The menace of illegal hoardings and posters is continuing in Karimnagar town for over a decade. Every time we talk about the issue and it is neglected as there is no serious mechanism to contain the growing problem, says a Lok Satta udyama samstha representative.
Karimnagar consumer council activists suggested the local elected representatives to erect signboards in their localities stating that they would discharge their duties without taking any bribes and ensure that the municipal staffs discharge their duties of sweeping and removing the silt from the drains daily in all localities of the town.
“Who has given them rights to deface the public properties and cause traffic obstructions by erecting the illegal and pollution causing posters on the roads”, he asked and reminded that they should also abide by the laws framed by their own government.
