The defacement of the Government property is being seen in different places of the city while the officials are looking the other way. Quizzed over the apathy being shown by the civic body to the problem, the municipal commissioner said that a drive would be launched soon to identify such places and penalties would be slapped on those responsible for it.
The Government property, especially their walls, are being dirtied with private advertisements and paintings in violation of the rule in force. They can easily be spotted in the many prominent spots of the city like on Rajpur Road, Haridwar Road, Balbir Road and Parade Ground. Even signboards are being seen covered with posters and advertisement, causing sight pollution. Things going on in full swing, the municipal corporation of Dehradun is showing conspicuous apathy in pulling them down from the walls of the important Government building located across the city.
Queried over it, the municipal commissioner Vijay Kumar Jogdande said, “A survey would be conducted soon by the MCD during which such spots would be enlisted. Once the survey is over our team would engage in removing all such posters and advertisements. The drive would start from some important places in the city.”
Informing about the law and the punishment entailed there for the violators of the law, he said that the persons or the organisations found responsible for such defacement of the Government property would be slapped with fines to the tune of Rs 12,000. “Furthermore, cases would be filed against them under the Defacement of Public Property Act. The persons or organisations involved in it can also face punishment like imprisonment,” he added.
He further said that the survey campaign meant to pull down the unauthorised hoardings in the city would start from this week. “As the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the city is approaching we are trying our best to free the city from filth. Drive to pull down unauthorised hoardings and the like is also a part of the cleanliness drive we are launching. The drive which was launched earlier would resume from this week. We have successfully removed hoardings from many places in the past. Those still left would be removed at the earliest. The team to be engaged in the drive would work during the night hours. The city would look a better place once the drive is over, we are sure,” he added.