Hoardings galore as leaders welcome new state BJP chief

Avneet Kaur

Jalandhar, January 17

Don’t caring two hoots about defacement, district BJP leaders and volunteers seem to have unleashed a barrage of hoardings, congratulating former Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma for taking charge as the state BJP president.

Right from BMC Chowk to Namdev Chowk to Skylark Chowk and even on the BMC flyover, the hoardings congratulating the BJP chief and bearing names and photographs of local BJP leaders and volunteers have been put up in violation of the norms.

The Municipal Corporation have failed to check the illegal hoardings and most of the officials are turning a blind eye to the same, which have irked residents.

Complaining about the defacement, Richa Chaubey, a resident of Mota Singh Nagar, said: “These hoardings give an ugly look to the city. The administration should do something about it. There are over 100 illegal hoardings on BMC Chowk and near the Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall, the main venue of the event. I am sure the hoardings will remain intact for at least 10 days even after the main function which is being held today,” she said.

Another resident Jaspal Sharma said: “Whenever any political leader comes to the area or take charge or during festivals illegal hoardings dot city. I fail to understand why officers don’t take note of it,” he said, adding that electricity poles, overbridges and busy routes should always remain free of advertisements as these act as distractions for drivers.

The large number of posters, flags and hoardings at the BMC flyover are inconveniencing commuters. Even Namdev Chowk, which is one of the busiest chowks, seems to have been converted into a ‘political adda’ with hoardings all around, Jaspal said.

Meanwhile, despite repeated attempts Mandeep Singh, Superintendent, Advertising Branch, could not be contacted.