Despite ban, posters continue to deface public space in Amritsar

Despite ban, congratulatory banners have been fixed on signages and direction towers located in Putlighar, Gawal Mandi and Rani Ka Bagh areas with the civic authorities looking the other way.

The illegal banner-fixing activity is continuing in these areas. Inaction by the municipal corporation against the erring persons has only boosted the morale of the offenders who give no second thoughts while covering these signages putting commuters, especially people from outside the city, to inconvenience.

Being a holy city, Amritsar is a major religious and tourist destination. It witnesses a huge footfall of tourists visiting the Golden Temple and the Attari-Wagah joint check-post on a daily basis to witness the flag-lowering ceremony, Ram Tirath temple, etc. The covering of signages with banners mean difficulties for commuters in finding the right roads to their destinations.

The towers, which guide commuters to their destinations, are completely covered with banners. Putting up any type of banner on signages is a complete violation of the norms.

Hundreds of advertising unipoles have been installed at every nook and corner of the city. If any organisation wants to put up banners, they find it convenient to hire these advertising unipoles. They should at least spare the direction towers, said Rajesh Arora, a resident of Putlighar area.

“Had the Amritsar Municipal Corporation authorities taken the strict action against the offenders in the past, they would not have dared repeat the offence? said Tilak Raj, another local resident.

This time, even the picture of a criminal, facing many cases, has come up. He had very good connections with cops as well as politicians. In the recently held municipal corporation elections, his wife had emerged winner and elected as a councillor.

MC Commissioner Gulpreet Singh Aulakh said the matter was not in his knowledge. He said the banners would be removed positively tomorrow.