When walls are wrecked

It is a common sight. Walls of several Government and public buildings in the city are plastered with posters and bill indiscriminately. Sometimes, even electricity transformers and traffic signals are not spared.

In fact, there are places where notices such as ``Do not stick bills'' are surrounded by bills. They could be cinema posters or posters announcing the birthday celebrations of a politician or a political procession. Whatever the content, these posters mar the beauty of the buildings and are an eyesore.

The City Corporation licenses such posters for a price, but takes no further interest in the matter. Also, every poster or a notice pasted on the walls should have the rubber stamp of the Corporation. But most often than not, we do not find the seals. This points to the indifference of the Corporation. The posters may be colourful and at times aesthetic, but they certainly mar the beauty and cleanliness of the place. The culprits are commercial organisations and political parties, which find the walls a cost-free and convenient medium to advertise.

It was in the 1950s that the public opinion grew so vocal against the practice of disfiguring buildings, especially the private ones. In 1956, a bill was introduced in the Legislative Council to check the menace, but was withdrawn on the assurance from the Government that it would draft a legislation.

The Government of Madras did introduce such a legislation in 1959 to curb and make unauthorised affixing, inscribing or exhibition of any advertisement on any place open to public view without the written consent of the owner or occupier of the property concerned. A penalty of three months imprisonment or a fine of Rs 200 was prescribed but the offence was made a cognisable one. It was also stipulated that when an offence was committed by a company, everyone connected with the firm and its conduct would be held guilty and liable for punishment. Despite all this, bills continue to appear on the walls. Of the Corporations now and then proclaims to take stern steps to end the poster vandalism, but to no effect. Another menace is that of the huge billboards (ad hoarding) that line the city skyline. They do not do much to improve the skyline of the city. On the other hand, they can prove to be quite a distraction for motorists. In some cases, the ad agency gets the licence to erect a hoarding at a particular location. But using the same order number and date, the agencies erect more such billboards at vantage points.

The pedestals put up on the pavements to hoist party flags too are a serious cause for concern. Again, a proposal was mooted for a new legislation for this purpose but dropped. It was felt that the civic authorities had the power to prevent such constructions on the pavements. But nothing effective seems to have come out of it.

The main thing is to prohibit the pasting of posters indiscriminately on public or private places and confine them to hoardings specially provided by the Corporation. It is obvious that the Corporation does not provide enough hoarding space for the volume of poster advertising available.

Also, the staff must go around the city and check to see if posters/hoardings bear the stamp of the Corporation, and prosecute those who do not follow the rules strictly. Of course, this may not end the problem, but if stern and determined action is taken, there may still be hope for a cleaner Chennai.

N.V.R. SWAMY

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