Several walls on Anna Salai sport clean look

Source : The Hindu Date : 13.06.2009

Several walls on Anna Salai sport clean look

Staff Reporter

Corporation workers work for 10 hours to clear graffiti, banners, cut-outs, and nameboards

— Photo: K.V.Srinivasan

ERASING WALL WRITINGS: Mayor M.Subramanian inspecting work to remove graffiti on Anna Salai on Thursday.

CHENNAI: Over 3,000 square metres of wall space on Anna Salai and Kamarajar Salai were cleared of graffiti and posters on Thursday. A total of 500 staff of Chennai Corporation worked 10 hours to clear the space.

It followed the ban on posters and graffiti on the two arterial roads. Many walls on both the roads sported a clean look after the workers whitewashed the graffiti.

The workers also removed digital banners, cut-outs and nameboards of commercial establishments that encroached on pavement space. Five lorries were pressed into service for the purpose.

Speaking to reporters after supervising the drive, Mayor M. Subramanian said the civic body would paste stickers indicating poster-free zones and warning violators of punishment.

“We will ensure that people do not write on walls or paste posters. Corporation officials would go on regular rounds and remove posters, if found, immediately. If the offenders do not listen even after warnings, we would request police to take action,” he said.

Mr. Subramanian said that even private walls would be whitewashed if they had unauthorised advertisements.

Unauthorised advertisements put up on bus shelters on Anna Salai would be peeled off. Posters stuck from electricity boxes, telephone pillars and street lamp posts would be removed as part of the drive.

At the conclusion of the drive, students of the Government College of Arts would be asked to paint the walls of government buildings. The Chennai Corporation has requested the college Principal for designs.

Mr. Subramanian said permission would be sought from the Central government and public sector undertakings to paint drawings on their walls.

The services of the students have already been used at the park opposite the Secretariat on Rajaji Salai and the park opposite the Raj Bhavan. They would be paid for their work.