The Hindu 11.01.2011
Unauthorised banners removed
In Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai
New look: The DMK banner erected on the foot overbridge in Palayamkottai being removed on Monday. — Photo: A. Shaikmohideen
Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai wore a new look on Monday after the
corporation personnel removed all unauthorised digital flex boards kept
along the roads, mostly by politicians and caste outfits.
Though a Government Order states that banners can be
put up only at permitted areas three days prior to the event after
obtaining consent of the police and should be removed within two days
after the programme, nobody shows any respect for this order. Right from
the political parties to caste outfits, anyone erect a flex boards at
any place of his/ her choice without any permission and keep it there
for as many days as they want.
As the police never acted against the violators, the problem assumed alarming proportion in the recent past.
When the ruling DMK erected a banner on the foot-over
bridge near a girls’ school at Palayamkottai, the AIADMK blocked traffic
on the arterial Thiruvananthapuram High Road as the flex board eclipsed
the banner already there which acknowledged the fund released by the
then AIADMK MP P.H. Pandian for the construction of the massive steel
structure.
Even as making arrangements to convene an all-party
meeting to solve this problem, the police gave round-the-clock
protection to DMK’s controversial flex banner. Since the meeting decided
to remove all unauthorised banners kept at Tirunelveli and
Palayamkottai on Monday, the corporation personnel commenced the
exercise with the backing of police and revenue officials from
Tirunelveli Junction to KTC Nagar on the outskirts of Palayamkottai.
“Before this much-awaited operation, the banners
completely covered the movement of other vehicles coming from the
opposite direction and also vehicular movement in the busy
intersections. Now the road-users, particularly the vehicle riders, can
clearly see the vehicular movement in all directions without any
hindrance,” said N. Perumal, a bank employee.
Though the removal of banners caused some traffic snarl
on Monday morning, the public were prepared to bear it as the joint
operation by the police, corporation and the revenue officials triggered
widespread salutation. “The police should not show any mercy against
any violator hereafter… Any politician or individual who dares to erect
flex boards without permission should be taken to task without fear or
favour,” said S. Anantharaj, a TNSTC bus conductor.