Illegal hoardings crop up in city after Jaya arrest

COIMBATORE: Expressing their disappointment over the conviction of their party supremo, AIADMK cadres have embarked on a publicity spree, erecting illegal hoardings including digital flex boards and banners praising their leader.
These banners have been sprouting up everywhere, near temples, government offices and even in residential areas. A banner was put up right in front of the Koniamman Temple entrance, praising the chief minister.Police and city corporation officials have been caught off guard by the maze of hoardings surfacing in various places ever since the verdict came on September 27. The hoardings will be removed immediately,'' said a corporation official.
The banners are supposed to have details of the NOC obtained from the DC (L&O) and the fee remittance details made at the corporation Treasury. They have neither," said social activist Manoj Arun who took up the issue with the corporation and district administration authorities on Wednesday. All the banners and hoardings have the image of former chief minister Jayalalithaa and poetic verses praising her virtues. Some expressed anguish over her imprisonment while a few went to the extent of criticizing the judgment.
As per a government order, hoardings should not be erected on pavements, in front of temples, schools and in any public space that inconveniences commuters and pedestrians. But all rules have been flouted by cadres erecting these banners, say commuters. "A huge banner erected at the Vadavalli bus depot for a hunger strike on Wednesday morning has created a nuisance for commuters. How the police approved a hunger strike in that location is not clear," said Vijay Narayanasamy, a resident of Vadavalli.
Hoardings by political parties and even private players can be seen on Thadagam Road, Vadavalli Road, Mettupalayam Road and Edayarpalayam. "We often have to navigate through the poles on which those hoardings are erected. There are chances of old people hurting themselves," said Arun. An official from the district collectorate - the authority that permits hoardings - said as on Wednesday only two advertising agencies and a private college have been allowed to erect hoardings. However, the responsibility of removing the hoardings falls on the corporation. "The fact that we don't have a department in charge of monitoring hoardings is a problem. The hoardings will be removed within a week," added a corporation official.