Polls over, hoardings back in city

Mangaluru: Even before the declaration of the state assembly elections, Dakshina Kannada district administration and Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) had taken initiatives to rid the streets of Mangaluru city of flex hoardings, banners, and other publicity materials. However, now that the polls are over, they are back in every nook and corner of the city.
During the election, all such publicity materials were removed by the officials as per the directions of the Election Commission. However, the city corporation is yet to wake up against the illegal flex hoardings.

As part of the model code of conduct, defacement of public property at nearly 5,000 places in Dakshina Kannada district were removed as on March 30. The respective urban local bodies and gram panchayats had also continued drives to remove such publicity materials during the election.
Before the election, flex boards claiming credit for implementation of government schemes and projects were found in each ward of the city corporation and in other constituencies of the district. Political parties were putting up flex boards to congratulate people’s representatives for taking up development works. The district administration and the city corporation acted swiftly soon after the declaration of election and removed all such publicity materials from public places under the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act. However, soon after the counting of votes, flex hoardings congratulating winners came up at many places in the city.
The CPM, which was not in the poll fray in coastal districts, had complained to the MCC seeking action against illegal flex hoardings in the city prior to the election. Officials from the MCC said that teams have been conducting drives on a regular basis to clear all unauthorised flex and banners.
MCC commissioner Channabasappa K told TOI that the city corporation officials will continue the drives to remove all unauthorised publicity materials in the city limits.