This is with reference to your article 'Streets turn into battleground for banners'. This is not just a case in Mapusa or Goa, but a problem across the whole country. Advertising has become the new norm for politicians. Visits, birthday wishes and festival greetings, political events, even government schemes are all on big billboards. While we feel this is limited to politicians, I have witnessed multiple hoardings advertising the police's assumed performance and achievements all over Colva, Margao and along the highways in Goa, despite the crime situation in our state. And I wonder who funds these advertisements? But I can certainly share the problems they create. For example, just the day before yesterday heavy winds and rain pushed multiple banners of a political event advertisement onto the road along the Margao Western Bypass. Imagine nails jutting out from the frames puncturing tyres at high speed. Then there are traffic signboards that remain hidden behind them - speed limits, curve ahead, no entry for certain vehicle types etc. But then who cares about citizens' lives, right? We are here just to pay taxes and believe in the hoardings.
ALWYN FERNANDES, Benaulim
