Flexis dot skyline as authorities blink

Warangal: It seems like that old habits die hard; especially the saying is more apt to the politicians, who despite aware of ill-effects of flexi posters and banners, continue to use them rampantly. As a result, flexi printing business that ran into trouble some time ago with the lawmakers cracking a whip against those, who put up flexi banners, is now seemingly in a comfortable position. 

Thanks to increased patronage to flexi posters and lackadaisical approach of the authorities concerned. Even though the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Working President KT Rama Rao had made it clear several times that he was against putting up flexi banners, his party leaders apparently turning a deaf ear to his diktat time and again.

Thursday was no exception with KTR visiting to Warangal as part of the preparatory meeting for the upcoming Parliament elections. To show up their loyalty and active presence, the TRS leaders including almost all the legislators put up huge banners welcoming their leader, virtually turning Warangal into a pink city. 

Even the TRS Corporators and second rung leaders also jumped on the bandwagon to impress upon their leader and to catch the eye of leadership. It was a livelihood conflict for the flexi printers in the city a couple of years ago when the authorities strictly implemented municipal laws slapping fine on those, who put up hoardings in public places without permission.

In fact, KTR, the then Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, had expressed his displeasure over the flexi banners and posters put up by his party men when he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Marri Yadava Reddy as KUDA chairman a couple of years ago. He directed the authorities to turn Warangal as litter-free city.

Soon after his call, the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) acted tough refusing to give permission to put up flexi banners. It also sent a strong message to the people by slapping a fine of Rs 5,000 on MP Pasunuri Dayakar on behalf of the Kadalika NGO which put up flexis without GWMC’s permission.

Speaking to The Hans India, GWMC Municipal Commissioner N Ravi Kiran said:  “We will remove the flexi posters and initiate action against those, who put up them without permission.”Referring to the thousands of banners put up by leaders all over the city welcoming KTR, Lok Satta Udyama Samstha State Advisor P Kodanda Rama Rao said: “The flexi banners made of synthetic polymers, mostly Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC), are non-biodegradable. When burnt, flexis release gases that are harmful. These synthetic polymers are carcinogenic, hence the authorities need to curb the use of flexi banners.” No political party is exception when it comes to the use of flexi posters, he said.