Post-LS poll results, illegal hoardings remain an eyesore

The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) seems to have turned a blind eye towards the numerous unauthorised hoardings that have sprung everywhere, soon after the Lok Sabha results were declared.

As soon as the model code of conduct was announced, the Palike cracked the whip on illegal flexes and hoardings that flooded the City. The civic agency removed over 29,585 flexes and banners and 26 unauthorised advertisement panels then. However, it is is yet to initiate action against the advertisers after the results were out.

The streets are flooded with flexes, banners and posters of victorious candidates from Bangalore South, Central, North and Rural Lok Sabha seats. A number of hoardings featuring P C Mohan, the winning BJP candidate from Bangalore Central constituency cannot be missed near the compound wall railings of the Palike head office, which is a government body.

A huge hoarding has been put up by the BJP supporters at Sampangiramnagar.
Corporator M Gopi said that the hoardings were put up to congratulate the winning candidate and that he was not involved in it, though his name appears on them.

Billboards of the newly elected Congress MP from Bangalore Rural D K Suresh and Energy Minister D K Shivakumar on the Kanakapura Road are an eyesore. Areas around Lalbagh have been awash with the hoardings of Bangalore South MP Ananth Kumar and Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi.

BBMP Assistant Commissioner (Advertisement) Manjunatha Swamy maintained that they were active in removing hoardings from March 5 till April first week. “There were not many hoardings from April second week till May 18 since advertisers were aware of our drive. After the results, there has been a gradual rise in the number of illegal hoardings. We held a meeting with Mayor B S Satyanarayana and other higher officials. I have also directed the assistant revenue officers to take action.”

Palike Commissioner M Laxminarayana told Deccan Herald that since the model code of conduct came to an end once the elections were over, no action was taken to keep tabs on the advertisers. On posters inside the Palike head office building, he said they might have been put up by the BBMP’s advertising department officials and that he will check them.