Subhasri death: Crackdown on illegal hoardings begins in Tamil Nadu delta districts

Source: thenewsminute.com

After Chennai, districts such as Trichy and Thanjavur in the central part of Tamil Nadu are witnessing a crackdown on illegal hoardings erected in public places. The police and civic authorities in these districts have taken a drive to remove any hoardings, banners, publicity material, including those put up by political parties in public places. 

This crackdown in the state comes after the death of a 23-year-old Chennai techie Subhasri Ravi after an illegal hoarding on the Thoraipakkam-Pallavaram main road fell on her. Subhasri then came under the wheels of a tanker lorry that was right behind her after she fell on the road when the hoarding hit her two-wheeler. 

The hoarding was erected by AIADMK functionary and former councillor S Jayagopal to invite Tamil Nadi Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam for his son’s wedding. Many of the hoardings which were put up along that road had been poorly erected and had become dangerously loose due to winds.

In Trichy, a drive was undertaken on Saturday under the instructions Police Commissioner A Amalraj with police teams removing illegal hoardings and flex boards across the district. According to reports, a team of police officers removed around 100 flex boards that announced the marriages of people in a place called Karumandapam. The crackdown on hoardings was undertaken in Woraiyur, Edamalaipatti Pudur, Cantonment, Puthur, Thillai Nagar, Kattur, Srirangam, etc. 

Illegal hoarding crackdown was also conducted in Manapparai, Musiri, Lalgudi, Thuraiyur, Karur, Ariyalur, Perambalur and Pudukottai, according to reports. In Trichy and Thanjavur, a total of 201 (110 in Trichy and 91 in Thanjavur) cases were registered against those who had erected banners without due permission. 

In some of the areas, the drive against illegal hoardings was also held by the respective civic bodies of the localities. 

Chennai, too, saw a similar drive by the Greater Chennai Corporation to remove illegal hoardings on Friday. A special patrol was set up by the corporation to remove illegal hoardings. As of Saturday, around 3,400 illegal banners, hoardings and flex boards had been cleared from the city.

The corporation has also launched three special phone lines for residents to complain against unauthorised hoardings. 

People living in Tiruvottriyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Royapuram and Tondiarpet can call 9445190205 to lodge their complaints. People residing in Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Ambattur, Teynampet, Anna Nagar and Kodambakkam can call 9445190698 to lodge complaints. Residents of Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Adyar, Perungudi and Sholinganallur can call 9445194802 and report illegal hoardings in their locality.