Civic body removes illegal posters, flex boards

Tribune News Service
Patiala, February 6

Officials of the land branch of the Municipal Corporation (MC) have failed to remove illegal flex boards and posters featuring political leaders, including city Mayor Sanjeev Kumar Sharma. 

Otherwise, the department has been removing flex boards and posters of private entities through various drives taken out from time to time. 

Officials in the MC said they were not responsible for posters on government buildings while those on roadsides were being removed without bias.

The land branch of the MC has been carrying out drives to remove flex boards and posters of businesses, put up illegally in the city. Drives have been carried out in the areas, including near Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, bus stand, Fountain Chowk, NIS Chowk, Mohindra College, Tripuri Chwok and other places.

Meanwhile, similar posters can be seen in the internal parts of the city, including near Sabzi Mandi, Dharampura Bazaar, Top Khana road and others.

Posters featuring political leaders and parties have not been removed while drives have been held in other areas. Similar posters have also been put up illegally on government buildings, including the telephone exchange of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) in Tripuri.

“Officials of the MC come and remove our posters from empty plots and outside our shops, but do not remove those featuring political leaders. Such posters have been put up at various government properties, including entry gates of parks and others places,” alleged residents in the city.

“People deliberately use the image of the city Mayor in their posters to ensure that officials from the MC do not remove them. This is a common practice, added another resident”

“We are removing all illegal posters in the city without any bias. Also, defacement of any government building should be dealt with by the department concerned. This is according to directions of the Deputy Commissioner. We will remove all other illegal posters from the city roads within a day or two,” said Ravdeep Singh, superintendent, MC land branch. 

“We are also removing illegal encroachments in the city. This includes Bhera road, Dharampura Bazaar, Adalat Bazaar and the AC market area, which are most affected by encroachments. Earlier, we used to confiscate goods of traders. Now, we have issued chalans to shopkeepers,” he added. 

“All posters put up illegally in the city are being removed and those featuring in advertisements are being challaned. We will get progress of the drive checked,” said Ankur Mahendru, Joint Commissioner.