Bengaluru cleansed of eyesore posters, thanks to poll code

If there is one thing that cleansed the city landscape of eyesore posters and banners, it is the model code of conduct.

Along with the government posters tom-tomming its accomplishments, even the hoardings of private firms have been taken away in the crackdown on tawdry displays. Moreover, the election rules have put a check on old paper posters and flex banners that invariably end up in the mounting garbage pile.

On their leaders’ birthdays — or when they get political postings — supporters would put up posters and flexes at every street corner, greeting visitors at each turn of the road, despite fervent pleas against such unnecessarily excess displays of loyalty.

“We removed 50,000 flexes, cutouts and hoardings in a day. As per the Election Commission’s direction, only advertisement hoardings with valid permissions were allowed,” a BBMP official said, on condition of anonymity.

The official said the Palike has not renewed permits for hoardings since 2016, which makes all the hoardings illegal in the eyes of the poll body. However, owners of 70 hoardings brought a stay, he said.

The Congress, BJP and JD(S) have all written to the EC, seeking permission for advertisements on hoardings. The BBMP refused permission, stating that it cannot allow posters and banners in the absence of directives.

“The EC and BBMP officials held a meeting and decided to retain the 70 hoardings whose removal was stayed by the court and the 180 government hoardings,” the official explained.

An EC directive in January forbade advertisements in government premises. “It became necessary to take permission for putting up displays,” the official said.

“Permission has been granted to display advertisements on buses, Namma Metro pillars, skywalks, flyovers and public toilets, while at the same time, illegal displays have been removed.”

In some places, only displays on the hoardings have been removed since it would take some time to dismantle the hoarding structure, the official added.