Six firms to face action for defacing public property

Mayor Sunita Dayal on Tuesday said she found several issues that could hamper the city’s prospects in Swachh Survekshan – 2023, the annual countrywide cleanliness survey, and one of them was this defacement of public places by way of graffiti and advertisements

The Ghaziabad mayor on Wednesday conducted another round of inspections in the city and directed officials of the Ghaziabad municipal corporation to penalise six firms that put up advertisements on the walls of a corporation park in Nehru Nagar.

Mayor Sunita Dayal said she will also hold meetings with officials with regard to illegal parking on corporation land. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

Mayor Sunita Dayal on Tuesday said she found several issues that could hamper the city’s prospects in Swachh Survekshan – 2023, the annual countrywide cleanliness survey, and one of them was this defacement of public places by way of graffiti and advertisements.

“During an inspection, I found graffiti on the walls of a city park. I got pictures clicked and sent these to officials for action. Similar defacements can be seen across the city. I have directed the officials to penalise the firms that put up such advertisements and defaced public property. Officials will also check for such violations in all five corporation zones and issue penalty notices for advertisements put up on the walls of parks, flyovers or even pillars of the Metro and other public transport systems,” Dayal said.

She said she will also hold meetings with officials with regard to illegal parking on corporation land.

“Such illegal parking have come to light on the link road connecting Mohan Nagar to Kaushambi. Action will be taken against them. Some of them have, however, beautified the spaces and maintained cleanliness. Such persons may be spared. We are trying to secure a better position in the Swacch Survekshan this time,” Dayal said.

Officials said they have issued notices to six such firms who deal in property, dry cleaning and other works.

“We have issued fine notices of ₹50,000 against each of the six firms. They will be required to pay the penalty; else we will lodge an FIR against them for defacing public property. Inspections will be carried out in all five zones and penalty will be levied in case of violations,” said Mithilesh Kumar, city health officer.