Defacement of graffiti goes on unabated
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, June 4
The graffiti, painted on walls and bridges in various locations of the city, has been defaced by social and religious organisations by pasting wall posters on it. The civic body had spent a huge amount to paint graffiti on walls and bridges before the elections under a beautification plan.
In the absence of any strict action against the violators, the religious, political and social organsations are superimposing the posters on the graffiti. The administration had hired painters from Delhi to portray glimpses of Punjabi culture on the walls of the city for its beautification. The painters made graffiti on the walls and pillars under the over bridge near the Hall gate, Elevated Road on the GT Road and the over bridge at bypass ring road. Walls of the historical Company Bagh were decorated with tribal art.
While the administration had spent lakhs of rupees on the project a few months ago, officials are not showing any concern to save the beauty of these paintings and graffiti.
The graffiti of folk dance on the airport road is now in a pathetic condition and looks ugly because of defacement by religious bodies. Interestingly, the violators including a Christian Missionary group, the management committee of a tomb, a ‘Jagrata’ committee and a Dalit organisation represent religious ideologies.
Sandip Singh, a local artist, raised concern over the defacement of the graffiti and demanded that police cases be registered against people who deface the walls.
Thousands of tourists from across the world visit the holy city daily. The walls of the bus stand, the railway station and other roads which fall on the way to Golden Temple are defaced with posters. It was a good initiative of the administration to put paintings on the walls. They look colorful. Defacement of graffiti is a crime. Police cases should be registered against the violators, says a violator.
According to Sher Singh, Superintended of the Advertisement Wing of the MC, there is a provision to register a case against a person who defaces walls. However, MC officials avoid to mess with religious organisations.
