BENGALURU: Ahead of the Assembly election, the menace of flexes, banners, hoardings and buntings has been increasing in the city. In order to curb this, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath and Bengaluru city district electoral officer has issued a notification warning that if any party violates the rules, stern action will be taken by the authorities concerned. The nodal officers of the respective BBMP zones have also been directed to keep eye on such activities.
In 2018, the Karnataka High Court had warned the BBMP to remove all illegal banners, hoardings from the public places. But the menace of illegal banners and flexes continues unabated.
BBMP chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath said, “The BBMP has already started the drive and instructed the officers to take steps to remove banners and other promotional material. We have given charge to the zonal commissioners and they will take action under the Public Places Defacement Act and Open Areas Defacement Act. Zonal commissioners can delegate powers to revenue inspectors to book cases against offenders. We were supposed to complete the process of removing flexes on Sunday, but it is taking longer”.
“The BBMP has cleared almost all places. Actually, we are doing it even before the Election Commission has announced the Model Code of Conduct. When the Election Commission of India announces the Code of Conduct, we should remove banners, flex from the public places and government buildings within 24 hours and issue certification. So, for that, now we have taken up the drive now itself. The government’s achievements displayed in the banner will not be removed, but photos of any politicians on the flex or banner should be removed”, the BBMP chief commissioner said.