Despite Blanket Ban, Posters and Banners Continue to Deface Public Spaces

Hyderabad: Despite beautification efforts being undertaken by the GHMC, unauthorised posters, banners and graffiti continue to deface public spaces. Political posters, commercial advertisements and banners about religious events and announcements dot the city landscape, despite it being an illegal practice.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a printing press owner in Red Hills said that they receive various types of orders, including political posters, smaller size advertisement posters, business cards and invitation cards.

“Orders for political-related printing works range from 3,000 to 9,000 prints in the size of 18 x 23,” he said and added they also have agents to paste the posters at night, when there is less police presence. If the agents are caught by the police, they use the political party’s name for which the posters have been designed, he explained.

Printing orders are primarily from the Congress and the BRS, with the names most used being that of A. Revanth Reddy and Mohammed Feroz Khan.

The owner also mentioned that they receive orders from political parties, which support them when in trouble.

Printing press owner Siva Kumar, from Patny in Secunderabad, in the business for 15 years, said, “When police ask us about the posters that illegally come up on walls, we feign ignorance and escape. Now it is riskier because CCTV cameras are placed at strategic locations.”

GHMC Secunderabad deputy commissioner Sammaiah V. said, “Our team is working on addressing this issue. Despite strict instructions to political parties not to engage in such activities, they continue to do so. We impose penalties on those who deface public spaces with posters and banners.”

Another official from GHMC said “This has become a nuisance for us. We are discussing removal of all kinds of posters, including political and filmy, in the city. We are planning to implement this not only during elections but all through the year.”

However, politicians and party activists claim that this is done to ensure public visibility.