JOIN USDespite the best efforts of the BBMP, it would seem that many walls in the City are practically public property, being used by a host of agents as bulletin boards to advertise diverse services like paying accommodation, pest control and even language tuition classes. In fact, long compound walls are often peppered with a motley of fliers, pamphlets and posters.
The most ubiquitous of these additions, though, are movie posters. Cutting across
different industries and not restricted to any one particular part of the City, these movie posters are an eyesore to most citizens. Attempts are made to scrape them off but since new fliers are put up on a daily — or nightly — basis, they seem to have become a permanent, if unwelcome, fixture in the City.
According to SS Khandre, the PRO of the BBMP, there is no stretch in the City where these movie posters are allowed. And while the BBMP does have policies that prohibit them, implementation isn’t as easy. “We haven’t given permission to any film industry to put up posters around the City. In fact, it is a violation of the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act. The BBMP is aware of the problem and we have been taking some measures — for instance, at night, we take steps to remove the posters. But unfortunately, that isn’t sufficient because new ones are simultaneously put up,”
he states. He goes on to add that there are varied parties who add to the menace. “Both producers and theatre owners are responsible,” he says.
Bangaloreans from different pockets of the City complain about the problem, claiming that there are obvious lapses when it comes to keeping a check on this activity.
Srinath Prahallad, who lives in Girinagar near Mysore Road, says, “Film posters
are particularly common on long compound walls of government offices. They are plastered all over and are definitely an eyesore. What’s more, some of them show some very objectionable content such as extreme violence. It’s shameful that they are so common in the City.”
In his opinion, simply having a policy that bans the activity isn’t enough — implementation is the need of the hour. “The BBMP needs to exert more control over where these posters are put up and what sort of content they depict,” he says.
Deshpal, a professional, points out that simply removing posters that have been plastered illegally isn’t enough — strict action has to be taken against the agents who put them up in the first place.
Violating the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act could lead to a fine of Rs 1,000 or six months of imprisonment, but the penalty obviously isn’t being implemented seriously enough. “The main issue is that the BBMP needs to take action.
There might be a policy stating a stringent fine for putting up movie posters, but there’s no implementation. After all, any poster that is put up will indicate the name of the producer and director of the film. The problem has to be addressed directly; only continuous action can make a difference,” he says, adding, “simply taking down posters
is of no help, since the authorities will then face the problem continuously. They have to regulate the issue.”
Nalini, a resident of Whitefield, agrees that continuous action is the only solution.
“On the other hand, it doesn’t have to be only from the BBMP. In our apartment complex, the resident association takes the initiative to clean up the walls. Of course, this isn’t a permanent solution — that would be enforcing a harsh penalty against the
violators,” she concludes.