MARGAO
Urging political parties to remove within 24 hours the poll banners, banners and posters put up in the city sans permission, the Margao Municipal Council has ordered a survey of all the hoardings and banners displayed without permission from the appropriate licensing authority of the Margao Municipal Council.
MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes has urged Municipal staff and has also cautioned political parties and the general public that the MMC is bound to adhere strictly with the necessary pre model code of conduct precautions and an exercise has been conducted by MMC and strict punitive action will be initiated against any violators.
While requesting all concerned to be cautious as the matter is most urgent, he said all his staff have been strictly instructed that all public areas within the municipal jurisdiction are to be cleaned before enforcement of Model Code of Conduct which will come into force once the ensuing Goa Legislative Assembly polls will be announced.
To underline his seriousness of the matter, the Chief Officer quoted provisions of the Goa Defacement Act which says abettor will be imprisoned for six months.
He also added that all who have displayed any posters, cut outs or any advertising material without necessary permissions from the MMC are directed to remove any such advertisements within 24 hours.
“This is the only intimation and public notice to all political parties to remove anything unauthorisedly displayed in the MMC areas by themselves with their own intent. Citizens of Margao have been expressing regret over several posters, hoardings and cut outs that have come up overnight and which are an eyesore. In certain cases there is obstruction as well as destruction to traffic,” he said, adding ‘Margao has to be kept clean’.
Saying that no licence of hoarding will exist once code of conduct is enforced, he said the permission of Returning Officers (RO) is required for any hoarding advertising for any political party or asking to vote for any particular candidate.
“Once model code of conduct comes into force in Goa, political parties adverts will be removed which are without ROs permission,” he said, while making a plea to all concerned to maintain a cordial atmosphere in Margao for a peaceful, free and fair assembly election and ensure all election period rules and regulations especially of the code of conduct are upheld.
Saying he is accountable to the higher authority, the Chief Officer said he will not tolerate any violations which will also affect MMC.
