Political posters blot out smart city dreams

LUDHIANA: Even though the government is talking about making Ludhiana a smart city,

political parties

pasting posters all over the city with impunity, much to the

chagrin of residents

.

"There is hardly any area in the city where these political banners and posters have not been put up. The worst thing is that many of these posters have been pasted on walls of houses, schools and even

government buildings

. I am very clear that anyone who pastes such a poster or banner outside my house will not get my vote," said Shivam an artist from Pakhowal Road. Advocate Sanjay Seekar said this exposes the hypocrisy of political parties. "A person who spoils the city for his or her personal interests does not deserve a chance at contesting elections. I feel the candidature of people defacing the city should be cancelled. A strict message against defacement should be sent out. Already, the city is famous for all the wrong reasons, including pollution," he said.

Varun Jain, a resident of Ghumar Mandi, said the problem is very serious and requires immediate attention of authorities. Once exemplary action is taken against people indulging in defacement, no one will dare to indulge in such an activity again.

When approached, deputy commissioner Ravi Bhagat said no one would be allowed to deface the city and that they were working what could be done to check the menace.