MC looks away as candidates smile from illegal hoardings

Hindustan Times: Ludhiana: Monday, April 21, 2014.

While the municipal corporation (MC) has given permission to political parties to install hoardings of only a particular size, that too, only on private properties, parties continue to install hoardings of larger sizes with impunity.

As per norms of the MC, only hoardings maximum 20 x10 feet can be installed at private properties, after permission.

But several hoarding across the city, including those at Dugri Bridge and near Verka Milk Plant, are glaring examples of violation of norms, which the MC has failed to act against.

Maximum number of permission for installing hoardings have been sought by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Manpreet Singh Ayali, followed by Congress candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu and then independent candidate Simarjit Singh Bains.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate HS Phoolka has applied for least number of hoardings and has been campaigning through rallies.

Through a Right to Information (RTI) application, Kuldeep Khaira, a city resident, had sought the number of permissions granted to different political parties in different areas of the city.

However, he was provided infor mation of only Atam Nagar constituency.

Out of the total 40 per missions, 23 were granted to Ayali, while rest were given to Bains. No other party has taken the permission to install hoardings in this constituency.

 “While the candidate of ruling alliance has been provided with more permissions to install hoardings, others are not given a fair chance. There should be a level playing field for all,” Khaira added.

According to sources, there are nearly 200 sites in Ludhiana where per mission for putting up hoardings had been given to various candidates.

MC superintendents have been made in charges of different constituencies where they are required to remove unauthorised hoardings and posters.

Rajeev Bhardwaj, superintendent of Zone A and responsible for Ludhiana north constituency, claimed that there were no violations in his zone, adding that whenever a hoarding of a prohibited size was seen, it was brought down.