Don’t paste posters on BMRCL barricades: BBMP

Don’t paste posters on BMRCL barricades: BBMP

Raghavendra RFirst Published : 09 Mar 2010 05:03:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 09 Mar 2010 06:22:33 AM IST
BANGALORE: Recently, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) imposed a ban on film posters being stuck on public walls. But looks like the film distributors and producers have outwitted the BBMP in order to promote their movies.
With the proposal of providing designated poster spaces in the city taking a back seat, filmmakers have started using the Namma Metro construction site barricades, to promote their movies.
Film posters are being stuck on the Namma Metro barricades, as it is deemed safe from the BBMP’s fines and penalties.
However, a BBMP official has said that sticking film posters or any publicity material on such barricades, also comes under the purview of the BBMP.
“A case can be booked against the distributors and producers for disfiguring a public place by putting up posters without the permission of the BBMP, under the Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1981,” he added.
The Act states that putting up posters or any publicity material in a public place, that disfigures it is a cognisable offence, which carries a punishment of six months in prison, a fine or both.
The official also said that the barricades were put up for protection at the construction sites and cannot be used for publicity, as it also comes under a public property. “We have noticed that a large number of posters have been put up on barricades at Vijaynagar and on Magadi Road surrounding areas.” Though no cases have been booked against any filmmaker, he said that soon action will be taken against them.
A strict enforcement of the ban gained momentum soon after Bharat Lal Meena took over as the BBMP commissioner.
In the last four months, around 65 cases have been booked against those disfiguring public place including putting up film posters.
Sources at the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), informed that a notification will soon be issued stating that the barricades are a public property and that it shouldn’t be used for publicity.
Jayamala, President of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, defended the film industry saying that the latter was cooperating with the BBMP and was not disfiguring public places.
“The locations have been identified and a tender for Rs 1 crore, under phase-I to provide designated space for film posters has been called by the BBMP. We have also requested the producers’ association about one-and-ahalf month back to identify the positions and direction for putting up posters, measuring 24x24 feet,” she informed. Jayamala said that things should gain momentum soon, as they are continuously striving to solve the problem.