Despite the Madras High Court ban last year on hoardings and flex boards featuring living persons, the stretch between Ega Theatre and Koyambedu on the Poonamallee High Road saw a flood of such hoardings on Saturday. Hundreds of party flags and LED hoardings dotted both sides of the road for a DMK party meeting that was to be held in MGR colony near Koyambedu later that day.
The flags and hoardings not only obstructed traffic on that stretch but also damaged the newly constructed granite footpath that had been laid after the construction of the Chennai Metro Rail in that area.
NGO Arappor Iyakkam had, on Saturday night, tweeted about this issue with pictures.
“Thank you @mkstalin @arivalayam for breaking up all the new granite platform from ega theater to Koyambedu in Poonamali high road. We can imagine what your party will do if come to power. #OurPlatformOurRight” (sic).
Thank you @mkstalin @arivalayam for breaking up all the new granite platform from ega theater to Koyambedu in Poonamali high road. We can imagine what your party will do if come to power. #OurPlatformOurRight pic.twitter.com/72aon24BUr
— குட்கா அரசு (@Arappor) June 16, 2018
“Sorry for the inconvenience happened, whatever the damages occurred I will have my party cadres to fill it up at the earliest. I will also make sure dis incident will not happen again. Our party has plenty of experiences being in power, don’t underestimate us. Thanks for ur info.” (sic)
Sorry for the inconvenience happened, whatever the damages occurred I will have my party cadres to fill it up at the earliest. I will also make sure dis incident will not happen again. Our party has plenty of experiences being in power, don’t underestimate us.
— J Anbazhagan (@JAnbazhagan) June 16, 2018
Thanks for ur info https://t.co/5FIi0sIUtn
Speaking to TNM, Jayaram Venkatesan from Arappor Iyakkam said, “We had tweeted out tagging MK Stalin and other functionaries of the party. J Anbazhagan responded saying they will repair the damages too. But our request was that they don’t do this in the first place. We have lodged a formal complaint with the Corporation. We hope they take strict action against them.”
Another local resident also took to Twitter to express his disappointment at the damage caused to the roads. J Anbazhagan responded to him saying that it was done by the contractor and not by the party cadres. He also assured that swift action would be taken to rectify the mistake.
Thank you @mkstalin @mkstalin for damaging the roads for your meet in mgr colony. I live just a street next . @mkmohandmk uncle we never expected this from you. All the platforms are damaged. I personally was looking @arivalayam as the next who can rule us for generations.
— Shomnath (@SamTinkupns) June 16, 2018
I am following u now send me ur contact number in DM. As said I will make sure everything ll be cleared in couple of days. Dis is not done by our cadres, it was made by a contractor. Anyhow, I am in charge for dis meeting,my team ll rectify it at the earliest. Do send places too https://t.co/9ALoHCkoQi
— J Anbazhagan (@JAnbazhagan) June 16, 2018
Illegal hoardings and banners have in the past not only caused inconvenience to locals but have also claimed lives. Just between November 2017 and February 2018, three incidents of damage to human lives were reported in Coimbatore, Ooty and Coonoor.