Illegal hoardings engulf city, rules flouted during global meet

When DT Next visited the spot, banners welcoming Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to the second edition of the Global Investors’ Meet (GIM), were found erected from St Thomas Mount to Trade Centre in Nandambakkam.

Even though the banners were placed on the sides of the pavements, they violated the norm that bans the erecting of banners on roads that have pavement width less than 10 feet. Also, persons, who erected banners in such places, are required to pay Rs 250 per banner and obtain permission from the civic body.

The regulations framed by the civic body mandate the details of the printers, date of approval and the size of the banner to be printed on the hoardings. Banners without these details are considered a violation. However, all the banners erected in the name of State Industrial Minister M C Sampath did not explicate the mandated details and still remained untouched by the civic officials.

Even though the majority of the civic officials were deputed at the Trade Centre to organise the global event, they seemed indifferent in removing the banners. City Corporation officials were unavailable for their comments in this regard.