Hoardings sprout on KSEB posts

KOCHI: Despite strict instructions from  the  authorities, the KSEB electric posts  in the city have become vantage points for advertisement displays.

The illegal hoardings include those of small shops, newspapers, notice boards of tuition classes and houses on rents.

Recently, the KSEB trade unions had demanded strict action against the billboards  which pose a threat to the field workers carrying out repair and maintenance works on KSEB lines.

The city corporation’s lamp posts are also being widely misused for publicity materials.   “We’ve taken up the matter with the board chairman. No advertisements can be permitted on electric posts as mishaps  have been reported while the workers climb and get down from the posts,” said Mr Jacob Lazar, state secretary of Kerala Electricity Workers Federation (AITUC).

Meanwhile, corporation town planning committee chairman K.J. Sohan told DC that the civic body had already started a drive to remove all unauthorised advertisements   from lamp posts.

“Notices have been issued to over  1,000 agencies, including big companies and brands, for the offence. A photograph of the display board and the location also has been sent to them and many of them have already remitted the penalty. Removal of illegal hoardings  is on and the drive will be intensified in the coming days,” said Mr  Sohan.

However, there are apprehensions over the success  of the civic body’s drive as  similar initiatives in the past had failed