Kochi: Even after several warnings issued by the High Court on removing illegal flex boards, the civic bodies have failed to clear them from roadsides and public places. Though most of the boards were taken out by the deadline of October 31, many roads are still dotted with unauthorised display boards.
Since the civic bodies have no permanent staff and facility for removal of flex boards and other publicity materials, it is difficult to conduct regular drives against them.
The Kochi Corporation had recently fined political parties, including the CPM, the Congress and the BJP, for violating the High Court directive and referred the case to police authorities. However, the menace of illegal bill boards is yet to be effectively addressed.
“It is nearly impossible to prevent resurfacing of publicity materials. The only thing the civic body can do is to fine and book the offenders,” said sources at the town planning section in the corporation.
In Thiruvananthapuram, bill boards of political parties are the major menace with the corporation authorities taking a relaxed approach. Publicity materials of events conducted by different organisations are allowed for a specific time period.
Tripunithura municipal chairperson R. Chandrika Devi told DC that the number of illegal bill boards in the municipal area had come down as the civic authorities were imposing fines on offenders. “Only those who are unaware of the HC directive are erecting publicity materials in public places and roadsides. Political parties are also now careful. They are using private plots with the permission of the municipality,” she said.
In rural areas, the tendency of putting illegal publicity materials has not come down.
