TamilNadu

Banners posing threat to public life in western districts removed

Following the death of a techie in Chennai, the officials have swung into action, removing banners posing threat to public life in western districts.
Banners posing threat to public life in western districts removed
Social activist ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy questioning officials over banners put up in Tirupur district on Saturday
DTNext

Coimbatore

In Tirupur district, social activist ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy had a war of words with corporation officials over un-cleared banners dotted all over the city.

The social activist came down to Tirupur on Saturday to participate in a farmers’ protest against erection of high-tension electric towers. He found several banners put up by the DMDK lining up the roads. As Ramaswamy raised an issue, the civic body officials rushed to the spot and swung into action.

They began clearing banners put up on Kangayam Road, Dharapuram Road, Raja Street and in areas nearby Usha theatre. Most of the banners remained an obstacle to smooth flow of traffic on these arterial stretches.

Not to let away the issue, Ramaswamy also called up senior corporation officials questioning them for being negligent in obeying the court orders. He also visited the Collector’s office, but returned as he was not there.

Speaking to media, ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy said, the death of Subhasri has brought in a positive change in the society. “This is a victory for people. Banners should not be kept for political functions and film promotions. This should be enforced in spirit by the official machinery,” he said to media.

The corporation officials removed more than 100 banners put up illegally across Tirupur. In a similar drive, a team of Corporation officials led by Deputy Commissioner Prasanna Ramasamy removed banners erected illegally at Sungam, Gandhipuram, RS Puram and other areas.

“In the last four months, 4,000 banners have been removed in Coimbatore Corporation limits. And this momentum has only picked up in the last two days,” said a senior Corporation official.

In Salem, Minister of Information and Publicity Kadambur Raju warned of strict action against those erecting illegal banners. “There is no truth that the ruling party is forcing police for erecting banners. The government cannot owe responsibility for the unexpected incident. We have sealed the printing unit and issued notice to Corporation officials in Chennai seeking an explanation,” he said after inspecting a government press.

Also, banners were removed from different parts of Salem, Erode and other districts.
VCK leader seeks stringent law to curb erection of banners
Days after the death of 23-year-old software engineer Subhasri in Chennai, Thol. Thirumavalavan, leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), has felt the need for enacting a special law to control or even prevent erection of banners at public places. Even though the High Court had already passed orders regulating erection of banners at public places, such orders were not being implemented properly, Thirumavalavan told reporters at Madurai airport on Saturday. Partial treatment was accorded in such practice of erecting banners by party cadre and the Department of Police is also lethargic as it failed to take timely action to prevent such incidents. He said the banner culture has been rampant and action was never taken to remove illegal banners, especially the ones of ruling party in the state. Even without obtaining prior permission from authorities concerned, banners, party flags and arches were often put up alongside roads by cadre of the ruling party with the support of police personnel, who would provide them security. Condemning Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that the language of Hindi be made a primary language and common across India to unite the whole country and also make India’s identity globally, Thirumavalavan said it was a move to destroy democracy. The BJP-led NDA government was only a reflection of RSS and Sangh Parivar and the Centre is implementing whatever these outfits preferred.
Puducherry govt bans erection of all banners, hoardings
The Puducherry administration has banned erection of all kinds of banners and hoardings to prevent any injury or danger to human lives. Collector and District Magistrate  Arjun Sharma IAS, in an order on Saturday,  banned the erection of banners/hoardings/flex boards cut-outs etc. under Section 144 Cr Pc without prior permission from local bodies concerned. Sharma, in his order, cited that seven commuters  sustained injuries when a banner fell over them on the Maramalai Adigal Saalai on September 11. There was no fatality. However, a young woman techie died in an accident when a banner fell over her in Chennai on Thursday evening. Further, the Madras High Court had  taken a serious view and passed  directions to prevent erection of unauthorised banners. The Collector directed the  PWD and  local bodies staff to remove any such unauthorised banners forthwith and advised all not to erect any banners without prior  permission from the local bodies concerned. He also cautioned that penal and legal action would be initiated against the violators.

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