Remove unauthorised paintings, advts from govt buildings: Anbumani

CHENNAI: PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Thursday urged the officials of state and Centre to remove unauthorised wall paintings, graffiti and advertisements from the walls of buildings belonging to various government departments and also from the bridges and national highways.

“To ensure that the bridges and government buildings in Chennai look pleasing to the eyes, painting advertisements and pasting posters on their walls are banned. In spite of this ban, there is rampant defacing of public walls in Chennai. Even in other parts of the state, the walls of the government buildings, bridges and even school compounds are covered with various posters and advertisements of political parties, movies and commercial organisations. Many of them are repulsive and unpalatable,” said Anbumani, in a letter written to the department heads.

He also said that roads are the arteries of a nation and when we travel along the national and state highways, it is not possible to enjoy the beauty of nature on either side of the road. Illegal hoardings, paintings, graffiti and posters on the bridges, buildings and compounds are spoiling the visual treat of nature. Apart from taking away the pleasure of travel, these illegal advertisements distract the attention of the drivers as many of these posters are pasted on directional and warning signs and lead to accidents.

Anbumani further said that the situation continues despite the High Courts and the Supreme Court from time and again are issuing warnings that the beauty of public places should be preserved.