Animated walls defaced in city, MCB unaware

BATHINDA: The Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) has made animated paintings on walls of schools, colleges and bridges under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for the beautification of the city, but many political leaders, private companies and religious organisations have started defacing it by pasting posters on them, while the MCB, which has spent Rs 11 lakh on it, is in a deep slumber.

A poster on the wall of the hockey stadium near Government Rajindra College in Bathinda. Tribune photo: Pawan sharma

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 23

The Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) has made animated paintings on walls of schools, colleges and bridges under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for the beautification of the city, but many political leaders, private companies and religious organisations have started defacing it by pasting posters on them, while the MCB, which has spent Rs 11 lakh on it, is in a deep slumber.

In the past, when a private company defaced these walls, Sonu Maheshwari, president of the Naujawan Welfare Society (NGO), had lodged a complaint against the firm in this regard.

He had met the Joint Commissioner after which he, along with the Superintendent, had gone to the Kotwali police station and lodged a complaint against the firm, but the issue was later resolved. However, after that the MCB had taken a soft stand against violators.

Sukhraj Singh, a city resident, said it shows lack of planning by the administration as if they could not maintain it then what was the use of spending such a huge amount on the animated painting walls.

He said it was the hard-earned money of the public, who pay tax to the government. Hence, who gave them right to waste it unnecessarily.

Another resident Gurleen Singh said beautiful paintings were made on walls which gave a good look to the city along with a social message, but some people have defaced the walls by pasting posters on them.

This has happened due to a soft and negligent approach of the MC as if in the beginning if defaulters were dealt with an iron hand, then nobody would have dared to repeat the same again, he added.

He said it was high time that the MCB should take the issue seriously and remove these posters from walls.

Display of hoardings and posters on public property was a violation of the Punjab Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1997, and also the orders of the high court.

Bathinda Mayor Balwant Rai Nath said he would check the matter and if anybody was found defacing walls, a strict action would be taken against him as per law.