With the newly nominated MLCs taking oath, their supporters have put up several congratulatory posters near the Chief Minister’s residence, Legislator’s Home, K.R. Circle and Basaveshwara Circle here.
Putting up these posters is prohibited in the A zone i.e., within the two-km radius of the Vidhana Soudha. It is quite a challenge for the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials to ensure that no posters, banners, flexes and hoardings are put in this zone.
According to a senior BBMP official, who spoke to The Hindu seeking anonymity, posters are not removed for two to three days. “As per rules, the posters are prohibited. But, the political parties are given a leeway,” he confessed.
The official said that most often the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike officials are threatened by members of political parties if they try to remove these posters. He admitted that though very few officials come forward to file cases against the politicians who put up these publicity materials, BBMP has filed as many as 82 cases in many police stations against the politicians under the Karnataka Open Place (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1981.
For each zone, one Revenue Inspector is responsible for ensuring that no publicity materials are put up in the prohibited zones. “Each Revenue Inspector is provided with a vehicle and 10 contract labourers. The removal of such posters is usually taken up at night,” he said.