BBMP faces uphill task to remove banners, flexes put up by parties

Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

If the brazen misuse of public places by politicians by putting up banners and flexes is any indication, it seems the BBMP authorities will have to go extra mile to keep the city free from the menace.

Recently, first information reports (FIRs) were registered at Halasuru Gate Police Station and SJ Park Police Station against the people responsible for putting up banners and flexes on the occasion of a felicitation of Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad at the Town Hall.

The Congress workers put up banners and flex barely a week after BBMP Chief Commissioner issued a circular to all zonal engineers to remove all illegal banners and flexes in their respective zones.

The latest violation is by Congress workers from Pulakeshinagar who had put up banners and flexes without BBMP’s permission. They vied among themselves to express their loyalty by putting up banners and flexes to convey birthday wishes to their leader – MLA R. Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy.

Till Monday morning, a major portion of the M.M. Road, was swamped with banners and flexes. Residents were seen busy criticising Congress workers for defacing the road.

Later, Congress workers dumped all the banners and flexes at a nearby school premises. A few more banners, especially at railway underpass near Nandi Durga Road, were not removed.

Social activist Habiba Subhan has alleged that politicians have been wasting money on banners and flexes. “I think all these politicians are aware of the ban on banners and flexes.

I want them to respect the ban and not to put up banners and flexes in future. I demand the BBMP authorities to take action without any fear of favour on those responsible for violating the ban on putting banners and flexes,’’ Subhan added.

Meanwhile, a BBMP assistant executive engineer has assured to remove the banners and flexes.