No check on banners put up on direction signboards in Amritsar
It has become an annual affair to display publicity material on direction signboards in the city. So far, the municipal corporation authorities has turned a blind eye towards the issue.
Direction signboards near the railway station, Gawal Mandi, Putlighar, in the Taran Wala Pul areas on main GT Road have been covered with congratulatory banners in violation of the norms. These banners came up ahead of the festival season and religious events. Some banners adorn pictures of policemen and some have pictures of AAP MLAs and even Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Violators have not even spared backside of signboard frames.
In absence of strict implementation of the norms with iron hand, people don’t hesitate to put up banners in public places.
Thousands of tourists and devotees visit Darbar Sahib to pay obeisance and the Attari-Wagah joint check post to witness the world famous flag lowering ceremony. Direction signboards inform commuters about roads leading to different destinations. Covered signboards make it difficult for tourists and commuters to finding road directions.
Tilak Raj, a local resident, said organisations, which put up banners, should at least spare signboards. They could hire unipoles installed at every nook and corner of the city for putting up banners, he said. Illegal hoardings of politicians, including the Chief Minister, had also come up on roads during the festival season.
One police official, whose picture adorns banners, said he was not aware about any such banners and these were put up without his knowledge. He said it was duty of the MC authorities to remove such banners put up in violation of the norms.
Wishing not to be named a member of one of the organisations pointed out that they had put up a banner only for a few days in view of the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Valmiki. He said, “Why are people singling out our banners when many illegal political banners dot the city.”
Gulpreet Singh Aulakh, MC Commissioner said, he had taken charge a few days ago and was unaware of the issue. “I’ll look into the matter and take appropriate steps to stop such practice,” he said.
