Chennai: Chennai is known for its ‘banner’ culture. For anything and everything -- political parties to wedding parties-- banners will be there right on the pavement, along the road side, important road junctions, and so on, obstructing the road users and some time becoming reasons for accidents.
When the government agreed to implement the court's verdict to remove all illegal hoardings, people, who were longing for a hoarding-free Chennai roads, felt happy. After all they wanted to see a hassle-free Chennai skyline. All the steal structures on the buildings top and on road sides were removed using gas cutters. The municipality was given the job to remove the hoardings falling in their respective area.
The whole exercise gave a good chance to small-time politicians and babus to make some quick money. Tons and tons of iron rods were taken away by these 'blood suckers'.
A news item published recently in a leading daily gave details about this racket. But who bothers? No action was taken by the government.
These stolen steals were sold in the second hand market. At a time when steal prices had gone up manifold, the scrap steal was a welcome relief for those looking for steal roads for their domestic use. I myself witnessed trucks ferrying tons of iron rods to various places in Chennai after removing them from the advertisement frames. No one dared to question them. The political goondaism prevented anyone to question these perpetuators.
After allowing these peope to make some quick bucks, the government has again opened another avenue for these people to make more money by inviting applications to issue new hoarding license. What a cruel joke on innocent people!
The front page item in a leading English daily lamented the government's move to allow hoardings again in the city for that (without any advertisement) the government has already received a few applications (All from people close to ruling party, I am sure).
The government’s move is intended to bring some money to the municipality. Fair enough. But why didn’t they inform the people first and call for an open tender? As per the new norms laid down by the government, new hoardings should be at a few meters away from either side of the road to facilitate movement of traffic (sic) and not to exceed specified sizes. All these rules will only remain on paper. People close to the ruling party will erect hoardings according to their will. If they add a picture of CM or his son in the banner, will anyone have the guts to touch them?
Again people have been cheated by the government. Their hope to see a clear Chennai skyline without a banner has been dashed down.
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