Date:18/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/18/stories/2005091813640300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Festoons can turn death traps

Karthik Subramanian

Authorities fear penal action may invite the wrath of political parties Authorities fear penal action may invite the wrath of political parties

DANGEROUS DANGLERS: Motorists risk their lives near Munroe Statue on Anna Salai, as they avoid over-hanging flags and festoons put up by political parties. — Photo: M. Vedhan

CHENNAI: The plastic festoon menace is back with a vengeance.

With political parties organising functions over the past few days in various parts of the city, the newly-constructed medians on several main roads have become a convenient location for cadres to put up plastic festoons.

The distracting decorative items are stringed together in thick cotton or nylon ropes. They often cut loose and dangle precariously, posing a danger to road-users, particularly two-wheeler riders who stick to the inner lane.

Almost all parties put up festoons in various parts of the city in the past few days: the AIADMK put them along the route the Chief Minister took to inaugurate parks on Friday; the DMK along Anna Salai for its women's rally on Thursday; the BJP along Dr. Radhakrishnan Salai for its national executive meeting; the Congress for the sports meet organised at the Nehru Stadium and the Dravida Kazhagam for a meeting at Periyar Thidal.

Though Chennai residents have been used to festoons flying around the city roads during election campaigns, it is a bit unusual now, as elections are months away.

Road-users wonder who should take the responsibility of removing the festoons — the highways department that handles the arterial roads or the Chennai Corporation that maintains street lights to which the festoons are tethered or the traffic police whose duty is to maintain road safety.

Little response

The authorities fear that any penal action will antagonise parties. Predictably, there was little response when the issue was taken up with the authorities.

R. Govindaraj, secretary, Exnora International, said government agencies could insist on political parties putting up the festoons at a much bigger height. "The responsibility to remove the festoons must also lie with the parties. They must remove it once their function is over. Now they remain for a much longer period."

The same officials, who remain silent now, act when compelled by the Election Commission to enforce the model code of conduct during the elections.