By IANS,
New Delhi : The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Tuesday said it had removed 3,939 posters and that many more would go in its drive against defacement of the city’s walls, launched together with trader organisations and several Resident Welfare Associations (RWA).
Additional District Commissioner (ADC) Amiya Chandra said 400 MCD staffers in 12 zones in coordination with 14 traders and resident welfare associations had galvanised into action.
“We have removed 3,939 posters and registered 18 First Information Reports (FIRs) against habitual offenders. Everyone cooperated and that has made our drive successful.” Amiya Chandra told IANS.
This is the second such drive by the MCD.
Municipal Commissioner K.S. Mehra said the campaign was launched “to make the city look clean and beautiful ahead of the Commonwealth Games scheduled in October 2010”.
The ADC said MCD wanted to raise awareness and “build up a movement or cult against making the city dirty. We all walk in the city, so when out on a morning walk, rip one off. All it needs is each person to remove one poster”.
“We want that a law should be there where traffic police can challan anyone on the spot for defacing the property,” Chandra said.
Under the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007, defacing of public property or walls is a cognizable offence and doing so can warrant imprisonment for a year or fine of Rs.50,000.
Col. Shivraj, Munirka RWA president, told IANS: “Today’s drive was more effective because several RWAs and trader unions like in Karol Bagh and other places were involved.”
“It was a massive exercise. As the next step, we and the government are planning on-the-spot challans because residents are wary of filing police complaints.”