Amritsar MC to book firms, painters for defacement

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 24

The Amritsar Municipal Corporation painted illegal wall advertisements black in the city on Wednesday. The civic body took such a step for the first time after a couple of decades.

Walls of several government hospitals, offices, schools, factories and power colonies can be seen defaced.

The wall advertisements are a cheapest mode to advertise the product as there’s no need to pay charges to anyone. Travel agents, quacks, astrologers, corporates, private schools and hospitals, among others, use walls to advertise their products and services.

Sushant Bhatia, a newly appointed in-charge of the advertisement wing of the MC, initiated the drive to paint the wall advertisements.

“I read the rules about wall advertisements. It is illegal and punishable as it leads to defacement. So, I have decided to paint the wall advertisements black. Posters and flex boards can be removed, but there is no other solution without painting walls black,” said Bhatia.

The MC officials said legal action would be taken against firms and painters, which deface walls.

“We will curb the practice by registering police cases against painters and firms. There is a provision under the law to book such persons. A notice will be served on painters to check no-objection certificate of the MC before going ahead with the work,” he said.

It’s pertinent to mention that some wall advertisements mislead public about health and spread irrational belief among masses.