Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 16

A large number of illegal flex boards carrying congratulatory messages have come up around the Polo Ground. These illegal boards have allegedly been installed by councillors, leaders of the Patiala Youth Congress, arhtiyas among others congratulating the Local Bodies Minister Brahm Mohindra for unfurling the Tricolour on the occasion of 75th Independence Day in Patiala.

These boards also carry pictures of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and MP Preneet Kaur.

Most of these large flex boards have been installed at the entrance to the Polo Ground, on the Upper Mall Road, at the YPS chowk, near the Sewa Singh Thikriwala chowk and near Azad Nagar.

Chirag, a resident of Ghalori Gate area, said the representatives of people and politicians were expected to be torch-bearers for the people but they were themselves violating the laws. “These flex boards have been installed in view of the Independence Day celebrations. This action amounts to politicising the event as illegal posters have been installed for political gains.”

Flex boards cannot be installed at places other than the designated spots.

A city resident and a contractor with the MC said: “Illegal flex boards result in losses to contractors and they do not place bids for designated sites. This also leads to loss of revenue to the MC.”

Former Mayor Amarinder Singh Bazaz said: “This has become a regular practice. There are many other lapses in the governance here.”

Surjit Singh Cheema, Municipal Corporation Superintendent, said the flex boards installed illegally would be removed. Commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur said: “We will remove such flex posters in a day or two.”

When asked about the action being initiated against erring persons, she said: “They have not been installed for the first time. They are also not permanent. This is a regular process. We will get these removed.”