Electric poles turn flex banner holders

LB Nagar: Anyone visiting L B Nagar is greeted with a plethora of flexies in every nook and turn, thanks to the sycophancy and the ‘yes sir’ culture that is so deep rooted in the Indian psyche, that in spite of the defacement of Public and Private Properties Act that came into force way back in January 1, last under GHMC jurisdiction, it is not implemented properly with chalta hai attitude of both authorities and violators.

Electric poles have become flexi holders and from politicians to profit oriented business people discriminately use them for their publicity purposes. Officials of the subject are not in mood to take action against rule breakers. One can see the rampant of flex boards on the main roads of BN Reddy Nagar, Karmanghat, Champapet and IS Sadan. The violators are not leaving the metro work ridden and heavy traffic road from Malakpet to Dilsukhnagar, where even a pedestrian hesitate to walk during peak hours.

The road leads to Vijayawada and main road between Sagar Ring Road to Pisalbanda also facing the same situation. There are some instances of accidents due to the flex boards. Even the State government’s prestigious metro train also stopped due to falling of a flex banner on the track because of recent heavy rains. Municipal Administration Minister KTR during his recent visit to LB Nagar was furious at officials and leaders on flex boards and banners enroute the venue. He ordered them to remove those flexies and fine the violators. 

Even GHMC Mayor Bonthu Rammohan also tasted same bitter experience when he attended an official program. Local people are of opinion that authorities totally failed to curb flex boards, banners and cut outs under GHMC jurisdiction. New violators are emerging in the form of educational institutions, hospitals and shopping malls. 

Though officials are not interested to take action against violations, locals keep objecting flex banners in their vicinity. To prove this argument, people at IS Sadan division recently obstructed the efforts of a newly-established shopping mall to erect huge flex boards at Champapet road. There are demands from commoners to take stringent action against violators with heavy penalty to avert the rampant use of flex boards.

BY P Venkateshwarlu