Mysuru is named a Royal Heritage City, however for practically a decade now, it’s turn into a ‘Flex City.’
There are flex boards and flex hoardings in all places. They’re at Circles, they’re atop buildings, they’re on timber, they’ve climbed Chamundi Hill and even crawled into the median of Mysuru-Bengaluru Freeway !
Our metropolis has been affected by an unlawful hoarding epidemic for 15 years. Makes an attempt have been made to finish it… once more… and once more, however the Mysuru City Company (MCC) fails once more… and once more. They’ve made one other try however we concern they will fail but once more.
Day earlier than yesterday, the MCC performed what can solely be described as a ‘Cinderella Operation’ — a midnight flex-removal drive.
MCC, underneath the duvet of darkness, eliminated unlawful banners. However one is compelled to ask: Why should enforcement happen at midnight? If the administration is upholding the regulation, it ought to achieve this visibly and confidently.
When enforcement avoids daylight, it suggests hesitation, as a substitute of projecting power.
MCC ought to do these drives in broad daylight to ship a message that it doesn’t concern implementing the regulation. If you happen to conceal the implementation of the regulation from these it’s meant to control, it indicators weak spot and lack of resolve.
This will solely make them suppose you concern them and this in turn will embolden them and the flex posters will return. Like they’ve been after each clearance drive.
Why so cynical, one might ask? How can one not be contemplating that this farce is performed out each two years?
In August 2014, the City Growth Ministry introduced that it could wonderful ‘closely’ those that erect unauthorised lower-outs, banners or hoardings! What occurred? Nothing.
In 2006, the MCC proposed to declare Ok.R. Circle, 5-Lights Circle, Ramaswamy Circle and so forth., as ‘hoarding-free’ zones and ban industrial hoardings inside 100 metres of heritage websites.
What occurred? Nothing.
In 2009, the MCC began an ‘unlawful hoarding drive’ to which some individuals protested and the drive was stopped.
In 2011, the MCC Council handed a decision banning hoardings within the core heritage areas and stated that circumstances could be filed in opposition to violators.
What occurred? Nothing.
The penalty for unauthorised disfigurement by commercial as per The Karnataka Open Locations (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1981, is punishable with imprisonment and wonderful.
Has the MCC booked anybody until date? No.
This ineffective drive by authorities has emboldened many, and now, due to that, our Circles named after kings, reformers and directors now resemble medieval announcement squares.
Obituary flexes. Birthday flexes. Political flexes. “Lengthy reside our beloved chief” flexes dot our metropolis. The chief, invariably, is talking on a cell phone and glowing in three shades lighter than humanly doable, whereas loyal ‘chamchas’ grin from his chest, abdomen and infrequently from anatomically complicated places. Politicians can cease this menace, however they gained’t as a result of flex is an assertion. It’s territorial marking.
Politicians thrive and survive on public notion of them being highly effective. And peppering town with posters is a technique of doing it.
The issue isn’t restricted to political banners. Throughout Dasara, Authorities Departments themselves turn into enthusiastic contributors in visible extra.
Poorly designed consciousness posters seem on non-public hoardings. Public areas are handed over with out aesthetic tips.
For a metropolis that speaks usually of beautification, we show a curious tolerance for ‘uglification.’ Much more troubling is the seasonal nature of enforcement.
Clear-up drives usually intensify simply earlier than ‘Swachh Survekshan’ inspections or excessive-profile visits. As soon as the assessors depart, the flex returns, not tentatively, however triumphantly.
Enforcement that’s episodic invitations defiance. Consistency alone creates deterrence.
This menace of unlawful hoardings can’t be stopped with seasonal drives. It’s a perennial downside and wishes a perennial answer.
Perhaps, like how the Police had ‘Garuda’ automobiles and ‘Cheetah’ bikes for patrolling, MCC can also have a ‘Giraffe’ Jeep — an MCC group in a automobile with a ladder patrolling town and tearing down unlawful banners.
Whereas our administration continually talks concerning the beautification of our metropolis, they encourage its ‘uglification’ by not implementing the regulation.
Except MCC actually ‘flexes’ its muscle groups in opposition to flex menace, our metropolis will turn into ‘Flex City.’
‘Mysore’ will turn into an ‘Eyesore.’
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