Illegal hoardings with mayor’s photos surface, MC unaware

The city has been grappling with the problem of illegal hoardings for years and the residents often accuse the municipal corporation (MC) of turning a blind eye towards this. But the civic body this time faces a bizarre situation as several hoardings carrying the photos of mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria have been put up at various places and if the mayor is to be believed, he is not at all aware who got the hoardings installed.

These unauthorised hoardings carry greetings of New Year and Lohri and the name of the mayor is not at all mentioned.

Gohalwaria says he doesn’t know who got the hoardings installed without permission. He has assured to inquire the matter.

The hoardings have been installed at busy chowks and places including Fountain Chowk, outside Rose Garden and other places. Earlier, the unauthorised hoardings carrying the picture of deputy mayor RD Sharma were also installed.

The unauthorised hoardings carrying the photos of the leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress are common in the city without MC’s approval. The leaders generally don’t come forward to encourage their supporters to stop such a practice that violates the Defacement of Public Property Act.

It is worth mentioning here that the MC has failed to act against the illegal hoardings in the city despite having power to issue challans.

A city resident, Gagandeep Singh, said, “The law should be equal for all. The MC should not allow anyone to install hoardings illegally. The mayor should act against the offenders.”

An RTI activist, Kuldeep Singh Khaira, said, “Mayor is first person of the city. If unauthorised hoardings carrying his photos are installed in the city, what can we expect from the MC. The mayor should order the immediate removal of such hoardings. The civic body should act against the unauthorised hoardings and posters which are defacing the city.”

When contacted, mayor Harcharan Singh Gohalwaria said, “I have never allowed the installation of any hoarding with my picture. It is a profound wrong if anyone has installed hoardings with my photo. I will try to find out the facts.”