Mysuru: Following the positive response to its flex-free Dasara campaign launched on Oct 7, Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) is gearing up to make the removal of flexes, posters and banners a permanent feature.The civic body has been conducting clean-up drives in three shifts, disposing of 300kg to 500kg of publicity material daily. Civic workers remove posters and banners from major streets, public places and junctions, and areas near heritage structures.Mysuru Grahakara Parishath and other associations have raised concerns over unauthorised flex banners, posters, buntings, political advertisements, hoardings, digital signboards and displays put up to celebrate birthdays or welcome newly elected leaders. Such publicity material has appeared on major streets and junctions, and near prominent heritage structures and tourist spots, including Mysuru Palace, Chamundi Hills, City Railway Station, KSRTC, and along Bannur, T Narasipura, and Hunsur roads, defacing the city.Despite enforcement by the MCC under the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1981, and other acts, unauthorised posters, cutouts, and banners continue to reappear during political events, festivals, private celebrations, and weddings.Supporters of politicians and political party activists also routinely put up oversized cutouts to convey greetings and best wishes. Residents and activists have demanded action against those responsible and recovery of removal costs from them.Speaking to TOI, MCC commissioner MK Savitha said chief minister DK Shivakumar, during his visit to the city for Dasara celebrations, appreciated MCC’s flex-free drive.“As the display of flex banners and posters is degrading the city’s beauty, causing visual pollution as well as resulting in an increase in plastic waste generation in the city, MCC will make this free drive a permanent feature. The drive will be carried out regularly by its civic workers to remove such materials,” she said.
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