Bhubaneswar: Defacing walls in public places with paintings, posters, banners, and hoardings may attract a penalty of Rs 50,000, but there seems to be a lack of enforcement when it comes to political parties, residents said.
With elections round the corner, several political banners, posters, and wall paintings have popped up on walls in different areas, creating an eyesore. Due to a lack of enforcement drives by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), the violations have intensified, residents alleged. They said the BMC penalizes private entities for putting up posters and banners on walls, electric poles, and other public properties, but it has done little or nothing to stop similar activities of political parties.
Hoardings and banners can be removed, but nothing can be done about paintings on walls by different political organizations. The practice of making such paintings is quite rampant in the interior areas, Damana resident Tribrikram Ojha said. Residents said the political paintings, banners, and posters are a major setback to the civic body’s beautification drive.
The BMC said they are regularly penalizing violators and removing the posters and paintings. It is difficult to trace the persons who created the paintings, but we are watchful. We are removing such political paintings and posters regularly, BMC mayor Sulochana Das said.
