A positive civic idea takes time to gain all-round acceptance. A purely profit-motivated proposal, on the other hand, appears to get speedy municipal clearance. Such as the ecological rape of tree-line of Krishnaraja Boulevard that has been accomplished, virtually overnight. A row of 35 rectangular iron frames has been planted alongside avenue trees in the shaded walkway that divides the boulevard. The rectangular frames are each designed to hold commercial hoarding of the size of a cinema screen.
Surely, the city corporation can't be so hard-pressed for funds that it can't think of any sensible means other than mortgaging a slice of the city's heritage to advertisement agencies. I don't suppose the newly-elected city mayor, Ms Bharathi, would want the people to think that she opened her innings by signing an order for creating a 'commercial eyesore' on Krishnaraja Boulevard.
Whoever came with such hare-brained proposal was evidently in a hurry, and anxious to present city residents with a fait accompli, that can be undone only through a tedious and time-consuming process involving public protest, petitioning, and possibly, litigation. The timing of the move, to coincide with the end of mayorial tenure of Mr Dakshinamurthy, cannot be lost on people. Past mayor had initiated consulations with public interest groups on a policy-framework for siting commerical hoardings in this heritage-rich city.
Even vehement critics of MATF (read Lakshmana) and INTACH (Krishna Vattam), the heritage committee and MGP would find it hard to disagree with their stance. The flag-wavers against advertisement hoardings need all the public support they can get, if only to deny profiteers their ultimate victory over heritage preservation.
(See earlier post on this topic: 'Those Eye-hitting Hoardings' )
A group of senior citizens (the usual suspects) congregated on a cloudy Tuesday morning (July 5) in front of the courts complex. They stood there in a show of resentment at the civic authorities for having allowed a 'plantation' of commercial hoardings (instead of trees) on Krishnaraja Boulevard. Their silent protest evoked immediate reaction from city corporation commissioner A B Ibrahim, who ordered uprooting of the implanted iron frames on the boulevard.
He conceded that the offending frames for commercial hoardings were 'unauthorised' and the culprit, an advertising agency, put them up on the boulevard in violation of an agreement with the civic body. The ad. agency had, however, been authorised to develop and beautify Krishnaraja Boulevard. Even this authorisation was withdrawn in January last, according to the city corporation commissioner. The advertisement agency, on its part, wants the civic body to reimburse the money it claims to have spent.
Presumably, we haven't heard the last word on the boulevard hoardings episode. Nonetheless, two cheers for the senior citizens, whose 'silence' was heard by the authorities. They would be entitled to a well-deserved third cheer, if they follow up their efforts to ensure that the hoardings stay banished, not merely from Krishnaraja Boulevard, but also from the prescribed vicinity of all other heritage sites in Mysore.
Among notable senior citizens who contributed to the show of resentment at the boulevard were T S Satyan, Krishna Vattam, Bhamy Shenoy, R Guru and M B Srinivas. Anyone who feels we have missed out some notable participants (senior citizens) is welcome to post an update to this item.
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H.R.Bapu Satyanarayana
Date:
RE: Boulevard Hoardings: A Massive Eyesore in the Making
When this type of advertisements first came up on Vishwamanava Double road I wrote strongly about it. I gave a memorandum addressed to the Hon'ble Governor Chaturvaedi personally when he came to inaugurate Kukkarhalli tank being given a new look under ADB assitance of Rs.91 lakh. I followed it up with a copy to the Secretary, Urban Development, GOK. There was no courtesy of reply let alone any action. That is an eloquent comment on the attitude of the high digniraies to environment concerns and they only mouth platitudes. It is disgusting. In fact, on the initiative of my friend we also had a meeting with the advertising representative who agreed to reduce the number of advertisements and to our suggestion of exhibiting birds of Kukkarhalli to make it educative. This was the best we could arrive at . But nothing happened and why should it happen when all the officers can be influenced including the politicians. WE THE PEOPELE DO NOT MATER..
As regards boulevard issue I again wrote about it in all the newspapers which gave wide publicity. I talked to the then DC Kumar Naik who agreed with my views and on my initiative he arranged for a meeting in which MCC Commisioner and MUDA Commissioners were present and as also. several prominent citizens. DC was emphatic that what has happened in Vishwamanave Double road should not be repeated. In fact MUDA Commissioner was even willing to bear some expenses if it could help to stave of commitment made to the contractor to whom work was allotted though no actual contract had not been signed. To take a final decision another meeting was arranged to which few of us were invited along with the contractor. After detailed discussion, the contractor was willing to stop the work being done at breakneck speed if he is compensated for the money he had spent. Then MUDA Commisioner undertook the responsibility to get an assesment made of the amount spent so that his office coudl meet a part amount and MCC Commissioner also pitched in saying that he could make use of the electrical work and he can pay it. I also wrote to Smti Sudha Murty if her foundation could spare a few lakhs. Ther was no reply. So the impression was that everything would be worked out and the heritage of the stretch would be safegurded.I am also aware some more meetings took place chired by DC. MCC Commissioner was very much aware of the sentiments and he had personally said even in Vishwamanava road something could be done to reduce the number of advertisement. I can only refer to the Editorial written by SOM in which it was writen referring to MCC Commissioner whether he can bite as good as he barks. That summs up the attitude of the MCC Commissioner most evocatively, he only barks. I only hope something positive will happen. H.R.Bapu Satyanarayana.
Please urge the authorities to lay the road which is tampered to make the boulevard hoarding!! First comes first.. get the road done and then concentrate on what needs to be done to make the boulevard look attractive!!
That road has already taken one victim!! do something before it starts taking more!!
