MCG will hire private agency to remove political hoardings

Since March 10, the day the model code of conduct for the general elections was enforced, the MCG has been assigned the task of taking down political hoardings, banners and posters.

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has floated tenders for acquiring a private agency that will be responsible for taking down political hoardings, banners and posters across the city, officials said on Wednesday.

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has floated tenders for acquiring a private agency that will be responsible for taking down political hoardings, banners and posters across the city. (Yogendra Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Since March 10, the day the model code of conduct for the general elections was enforced, the MCG has been assigned the task of taking down political hoardings, banners and posters.

However, with just 20 staff members assigned to the task, the MCG’s work has largely been confined to the main roads of the city, with arterial stretches still dotted with political hoardings, banners, and posters, officials said, adding that at least 100 people were needed for the job.

“We realised that the resources of the MCG for taking down political hoardings, banners, and posters were stretched thin. For a comprehensive coverage of the city, there need to be more than 100 people on the job for this task. Hence, the MCG has floated tenders to outsource the work to a private agency,” Saurabh Nain, executive engineer of the MCG, said.

On April 8, during an internal meeting, Yashpal Yadav, the MCG commissioner, had taken stock of the political hoardings, banners, and advertisements put across the city. He had directed officials to register FIRs against those who were found guilty of illegally erecting hoardings under charges of defacement.

While the MCG is yet to register an FIR against violators, officials said that there are more than 200 designated spots across the city where candidates can install hoardings, banners, and posters.

In a statement on March 14, Rajeev Ranjan, the Haryana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), had said all political parties must ensure that no poster, slogan, banner or flag is hoisted or painted on private or public properties as “those violating this rule will face action under sections 425, 426, 247 and 433 of the Indian Penal Code.”

There are 25 candidates in the fray for the 2019 general elections, of which 16 are affiliated to political parties. Nine people are contesting as independent candidates.

A total of 2,043,216 people from the city are registered to vote this year.