Chennai: Posters are a common sight on every wall, post and flat surface in the neighbourhood of Anna Nagar, Chennai. Even EB junction boxes are not left behind, state residents.
Authorities must control and regulate the process, they say. “I see young boys riding bicycles and pasting the posters on walls having applied the glue using their bare hands. We speak about child labour but do not stop this practise. Authorities should crack the whip on the matter without any delay,” said Mohan, a resident of the neighbourhood.
Savitha, a resident said, “The large size poster placed in front of temples in the neighbourhood may attract the attention of people. But, for sure it has shrouded the temple’s visibility to people. No wonder why people get to see the poster first and the temple behind it the next.”
“Cinema posters with unwanted scenes are posted near schools and colleges may affect the student studies. So, it is better to avoid pasting posters in these areas,” she added.
At few places in the neighbourhood, posters on EB Junction box irk residents. “Whenever, we come to rectify power problems or check the fuse carrier, we see posters on the junction boxes. When we try to open them, we find difficult and it is hard to tear the posters. We are working risking our lives,” said a TNEB staff.
Durai, another resident said, “We gave complaints to TNEB office and Corporation office. Btu till now, no steps were taken by them.”
Dhinesh, a resident of the neighbourhood, said, “There was a respite from such posters for some time but they are back now. At any given place, there are at least 50 of them. They spoil the beauty of the neighbourhood.” It is the bus terminus/stops that are the most targeted, he adds.
Speaking to News Today, an MTC official, said, “We try to remove the posters from the bus stop but they keep doing the same activity again. They do this during the early morning hours.”
These posters also lead to cattle menace, as the animals come to eat them, thereby causing inconvenience for commuters. Tamilselvam, a passenger, suggested that since posters clearly say who they belong to, they should be issued a warning and if the same continues, heavy fines should be imposed.