MCK is more concerned about encroaching parking space and taking up plantation of saplings, leaving aside its mandatory duties of removing encroachments of footpaths and pavements by vendors and traders and removal of pollution-causing posters
KARIMNAGAR, JANUARY 03, 2026: Despite stipulated norms issued by the State government, the law enforcement officials openly flout norms on the Collectorate premises in Karimnagar town and erect vinyl posters on public properties, causing nuisance.
The district authorities, a few years ago, had given clear instructions to all leaders and Ministers of the Union and State governments not to erect vinyl posters or hoardings on public properties. The Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar (MCK) had also, as part of their drive against plastic in the town, warned people of penal action if found setting up pollution-causing vinyl posters.
But, the Karimnagar district authorities, who had attained dubious distinction for encroaching the Collectorate parking space by taking up plantation for ‘obvious’ reasons, denying parking for the visitors and district officials are negligent in the removal of illegal pollution-causing vinyl posters on the district Collectorate premises erected on eve of New Year and which would remove till Republic Day celebrations as per message printed on the same.
Thanks to the lethargy on the party of officials of Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar and district administration, the Karimnagar Town, which is otherwise claimed as Smart City, has turned into ‘Ugly City’ with the visual pollution caused by various sections of society by erecting pollution-causing vinyl posters in the entire Karimnagar, including main roads and gullies.
Though the government claims that the erection of vinyl posters is banned in the town, the MCK’s drive against defacing the city appears to have run out of steam. With the Municipal elections round the corner, the contestants erected illegal posters, and on the occasion of Bathukamma and Dasara festivals, the posters surfaced, wishing citizens well.
Ironically, private hospitals, hotels, tiffin centres, and other businesses have also erected illegal posters on the roads, causing serious inconvenience to the road users and visual pollution. Almost all the Traffic islands are filled with illegal vinyl posters and they did not even spare the electric poles in the entire Karimnagar town.
Officials of the MCK and district administration frequently talk about on this ‘visual pollution’ going on in the town and take action against the illegal posters, banners and vinyl posters, but in vain. Freshly, the cut-outs are coming in various parts of the town, causing serious inconvenience to the road users.
But, the officials remain mute spectators to the visual pollution and also the pollution being caused to the environment as the publicity material is printed on plastic, which is banned. But no action is taken against the flexi-sign printers in the town to check pollution and save the environment.
If the MCK cannot check the illegal poster menace, at least it can impose fines after its erection in the town and take action accordingly, said Lok Satta Udyama Samstha Karimnagar town coordinator KS Narayana. “What is the MCK doing when several illegal plastic posters are coming up and causing serious problems to the environment”, he asked.
Though, the MCK authorities are taking action against the single-use plastic bags, then why can’t they take action against the most dangerous vinyl posters in the town, he questioned. He also said that the illegal posters were causing traffic snarls due to visual disturbances. Besides, the sticks and posters dangling and falling down on the vehiclists causing serious traffic problems in the town.
The Lok Satta udyama samstha leader demanded the MCK and District administration strictly implement the Defacement of Public and Private Properties Act and pull down all illegal posters and hoardings in the town. Similarly, the MCK should impose heavy fines on the violators and increase its revenues, he stated.
What is the meaning of Smart City with illegal hoardings and pollution-causing vinyl posters being erected without any permission from the MCK officials, asked Arun, the Lok Satta Udyama Samstha activist.
“We should all strive to make the city look beautiful. Many eateries and politicians erected such material to market their ventures. But these banners and posters not only make the streets look ugly but are also dangerous since they can block the view of commuters on the roads and traffic junctions,” he said.
In the recent past, the High Court orders and Acts clearly stated to discourage people from resorting to such practices. However, the MCK and district Collectorate, which are the seats of power, also became the venue for such illegal banners, and the authorities failed to act immediately.
Incidentally, the Traffic police are also negligent regarding the illegal posters which are causing traffic snarls. Instead of taking pictures of motorists not wearing helmets, the Traffic police should ensure that there are no illegal posters in the town and remove encroachments of footpaths and parking space by vendors, the local residents say.
