Team Herald
MARGAO: Despite the South Goa District Magistrate directing the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) to launch a comprehensive drive against defacement of public property within its jurisdiction, the civic body is yet to initiate a special drive aimed at removing unauthorized advertisements, posters, banners, and graffiti from public properties.
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Damodar Shirodkar, Chairperson of the MMC, stated that the council has not yet received the official communication regarding the directions issued by the District Magistrate.
It is important to note that just a few days ago; the District Magistrate issued an order directing the Chief Officer of the civic body to conduct a 45-day special drive. The order instructs municipal officials to identify defaced areas, collaborate with enforcement teams, allocate resources, and submit a compliance report, which should include before-and-after photographs. The objective is to tackle the growing issue of visual pollution caused by the unauthorized defacement of public spaces in
the city.
Responding to the order, Shirodkar expressed that the council was unaware of the directions.
“We have not received any such order. However, once the order is received, the civic body will certainly act on it. The MMC continues to take strict action against the illegal erection of hoardings and other graffiti,” he said.
Efforts to reach Chief Officer Melwyn Vaz for his comment on the matter were unsuccessful, as his phone remained unreachable on Monday evening.
The District Magistrate’s order underscores the importance of maintaining the visual integrity of public spaces, emphasizing that activities such as illegal advertisements and the placement of banners and graffiti must be prevented.
