Hoarding ban: Lok Ayukta seeks names of parties violationg order

KOZHIKODE: All political parties in Kerala are likely to be pulled up by the Lok Ayukta for not complying with a Kerala High Court directive banning flex boards and arches on the side of roads.

The Lok Ayukta had directed the complainant to submit details of all political parties who were not complying with the norms and the applicant had submitted the list of 36 registered political parties in the state. Ravi Ulliyeri, a social worker and the complainant, had also listed out 14 officials in the accused list who had failed to implement the order of the court.

“I have taken out the list of all political parties through an RTI to the chief electoral officer in the state and submitted it to the court. Political parties and officials failed to comply with the High Court directive that has banned flex boards, banners and arches on the side of state and national highways,” Ravi Ulliyeri told DC.

He said there have been several cases where accidents have occurred due to distraction caused by flex boards on the sides of the roads erected by various political parties in the state.

“Even mainstream political parties fail to comply with the rule. Authorities who are res-ponsible for implementing the order are supporting the rule violation by the political parties through inaction,” he added.

Recently, the Lok Ayukta had summoned the PWD executive engineer who was accused of collecting a bribe to allow a private party to erect arches on main roads  in Kozhikode city.