The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Losing battle against banners, posters?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 14, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Losing battle against banners, posters?

Sahana Charan

They deface public places and pose a threat to the environment They deface public places and pose a threat to the environment

ANOTHER PROBLEM: Bangalore has to cope with banners too

Bangalore: Illegal advertisement hoardings are not the only eyesore on Bangalore's skyline. There are also banners and cut-outs put by political parties, besides film posters. Public places have been defaced and the city has been robed of its beauty.

Concerned citizens say there is a threat to the environment, as trees are cut down at traffic junctions and other places to ensure that banners and cut-outs are seen. They are a hazard to road users too as motorists may be distracted by them.

"Important buildings such as the Raj Bhavan and statues of leaders are not spared," says Arun Prasad, research-head, Discover Bengaluru, an environmental group. "Trees are cut down so that they do not obstruct banners. In one instance, trees on a median near the BDA Circle on Sankey Road were felled to give visibility to banners put up by a political party," he adds.

Often, the Raj Bhavan entrance is defaced with banners and cut-outs welcoming dignitaries to the city or announcing a political rally. Banners of a political party were pasted all over the fifth Kempegowda Tower, which is being constructed at Hudson Circle.

Mr. Prasad says that though his organisation has written many times to the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike about the menace, not much action has been taken.

Banners and film posters on flyovers and underpasses can pose danger to motorists. According to the Bangalore Development Authority, it found posters and notices stuck on the Central Silk Board, Hebbal, Benniganahalli and Lottegollahalli flyovers/underpasses.

The BDA has warned that it will take action against those who put up posters and hoardings on flyovers and along the ring roads. A letter to this effect has been sent to the Film Chamber of Commerce, according to the BDA authorities.

BDA officials say posters and banners put up illegally are being removed.

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