Thursday, November 5, 2009

Complaint lodged against political hoardings On Times of India - 1 September 2009

Even after the Supreme Court banned hoardings countrywide, political parties here are breaking the rules. Along several pavements, you

will find huge vinyl boards and hoardings, with enforcement agencies turning a blind eye.

Social worker Traffic' Ramasamy on Saturday had lodged a police complaint, seeking legal action against Congress functionaries for erecting vinyl banners and shielding traffic signals at the Spencer Plaza junction and in Teynampet, hindering movement of vehicles. However, police personnel, after inquiry, treated his complaint as null and void because the banners were removed promptly, they said.

According to Ramaswamy's complaint, the vinyl banners was installed a few days ago for a programme to be conducted on September 5. On Anna Salai, the banner was 25 ft high and 20 ft wide; the other banner was installed near the Sun Plaza junction on GN Chetty Road, T Nagar.

"I sent an SMS and repeatedly informed the police personnel concerned to take action to remove the huge banners. But no action was initiated. Later, I made representations at the Teynampet and Anna Salai police stations and submitted separate complaints. They had given a community service register (CSR) receipt for my complaints," Ramasamy said.

"We informed the concerned political parties. They showed us the government order which allows installation of banners in connection with a function three days prior to it and two days after. As the banners were installed hindering traffic flow, they were immediately removed. The petition was closed," a police officer said.

Following a widespread outcry regarding the illegal installation of hoardings, the city corporation in August last year issued a stern warning to those who had erected flagposts, name boards, banners and cement plaques and directed political parties to remove them since they hindered the movement of pedestrians and vehicles.
"I can not comment since a case regarding hoardings is pending in the court. We will go by the court order," mayor M Subramanian told TOI.

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