Corporator's birthday bash leaves residents angry in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: City residents took to social media to protest against the obtrusive presence of large flex posters and hoardings in their locality. These were hindering traffic flow and also making it difficult for pedestrians to walk on the footpath. The power of ordinary residents was demonstrated when their protest showed results in about 24 hours.

Hundreds of posters were put up all over Whitefield to mark the 35th birthday of corporator Shwetha Kumar’s husband, said Surya Srujan, a resident who was the first to initiate the protest. “They didn't leave a single empty space, hanging these posters on to every electric pole on the road and sign boards as well.” The posters had nails protruding that posed high risk to passers-by, he added. “I myself removed two banners which were lying in the middle of the road, a source of danger to the vehicles passing by.”

Another resident, Ankita Ghalot, said that not only were these posters put up on the ‘no parking’ sign, they were even blocking the view of the oncoming traffic on Kodi Circle. “The poster covered the ‘no parking’ sign, and decreased the visibility of the traffic coming from the opposite direction. It was immense -- a 20 feet high poster!”

According to environmental experts, flex is non- biodegradable and can have serious adverse effects on the environment. Since it is made of synthetic polymer, it has to be burnt after use. Worse, when pinned to trees, it causes them to die, said Prashant B, a resident of the area. “I was able to remove a flex nailed on a tree on ECC road on Kadugodi. I could not remove the nails so the tree may slowly die.” There are many others like that, he adds.

The posters were removed on Monday morning but the inconvenience they caused is irreversible, complained the residents.