Govt & Political Ads, Hoardings In Odisha Capital Being Removed For Model Code Of Conduct

Bhubaneswar: With the model code of conduct (MCC) coming into force for the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, enforcement teams of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other line agencies have intensified the drive to remove government advertisements and political hoardings from different places in the capital city.

Workers of the civic body were seen dismantling banners, posters and hoardings of various political parties and removing government advertisements from various structures.

As per information, hoardings of Jaga Mission, Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana and similar schemes installed at different locations were also covered with white flexes.

However, government advertisements were yet to be removed in some places of the city. Government hoardings with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s photo were seen in some parts of the city. Officials said efforts are on to remove all hoardings at the earliest.

A BMC official monitoring the enforcement said that as per the MCC norms, all advertisements related to government schemes as well as hoardings and posters of political parties will be removed from all places including private spaces in the city within 72 hours and the drive is on.

While no scheme-related advertisements or political hoardings will be allowed to be advertised at public places till elections are over, political parties, candidates or their well-wishers seeking to put up advertisements in the city in due course of time will require to get permission for the same from the returning officer concerned of Bhubaneswar North, Central and Ekamra constituencies, he said.

It may be noted here that the grievance cell of the Chief Minister has been closed as the model code is in force now. The CM’s grievance cell will remain closed till the election process is complete, an official statement said.