Bengaluru: Now, mayor, corporators flex' their muscle

Bengaluru: To restore the aesthetics of the city, Bengaluru Mayor Sampath Raj along with other corporators launched a two-day drive to clear flexes, banners, wall posters and wall graffiti on Saturday. The BBMP is carrying out the drive to impress upon Bengalureans that they are serious about getting rid of the menace in the city. The Mayor and the corporators took out flexes and banners in Gandhi Nagar and surrounding areas.

Mr Raj told Deccan Chronicle, "I have told all the corporators to ensure that their wards are free of all flexes, banners and wall graffiti. The corporators of all the 198 wards should go around their jurisdiction personally along with pourakarmikas and monitor the drive. We hope that in a week, the city will be free of flexes and banners. Anyone putting up flexes after a week will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law and punished severely."

The BBMP is preparing a draft of the policy on what bio-degradable materials can be used to manufacture flexes and banners which will be submitted to the court, he said.  "The policy will mention what kind of material can be used for flexes and banners. Also, only government departments, which want to spread information and awareness messages related to various policies and schemes, will be allowed to put up banners. For example, the city traffic police can erect a flex describing traffic diversions. But even for that, prior permission is needed," a senior BBMP officer said.

"We are discussing the possibility of including punishment clause and strict action against offenders in the policy. We are waiting for the High Court to decide on the quantum of punishment and based on that, offenders will be punished," he said. Asked what kind of biodegradable materials are suggested for flexes, the officer said that they will discuss it with environmentalists and decide.