KOCHI: Despite strict instructions from the authorities, the KSEB electric posts in the city have become vantage points for advertisement displays.
The illegal hoardings include those of small shops, newspapers, notice boards of tuition classes and houses on rents.
Recently, the KSEB trade unions had demanded strict action against the billboards which pose a threat to the field workers carrying out repair and maintenance works on KSEB lines.
The city corporation’s lamp posts are also being widely misused for publicity materials. “We’ve taken up the matter with the board chairman. No advertisements can be permitted on electric posts as mishaps have been reported while the workers climb and get down from the posts,” said Mr Jacob Lazar, state secretary of Kerala Electricity Workers Federation (AITUC).
Meanwhile, corporation town planning committee chairman K.J. Sohan told DC that the civic body had already started a drive to remove all unauthorised advertisements from lamp posts.
“Notices have been issued to over 1,000 agencies, including big companies and brands, for the offence. A photograph of the display board and the location also has been sent to them and many of them have already remitted the penalty. Removal of illegal hoardings is on and the drive will be intensified in the coming days,” said Mr Sohan.
However, there are apprehensions over the success of the civic body’s drive as similar initiatives in the past had failed
