Gurgaon: Posters advertising paying guest accommodation, political rallies and commercial establishments on electric poles, road infrastructure and public walls could invite legal action, as Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) plans to pursue cases of defacement of public property. The authority will seek daily diary reports and registration of FIRs wherever warranted under the Haryana Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 1989.These posters, banners and advertisements are frequently found pasted on walls, electric poles, road infrastructure and signboards across the city. People often do not seek permission from the civic body before putting up such posters. They create visual clutter and lead to the unauthorised use of civic infrastructure for publicity.The authority has now directed its field teams to identify instances of defacement and take action against those responsible. Complaints and instances of violations will be taken up with local police stations.“Unauthorised posters pasted on public infrastructure affect both the utility and the aesthetic appearance of these assets. We often find promotional material pasted on pillars, barriers and other infrastructure, including freshly painted surfaces, damaging the work that has been done,” an official said. “The directions apply to everyone, including political groups, PG accommodation operators, coaching centres and commercial establishments.”The authority said it would also conduct regular inspections and removal drives to prevent public infrastructure from being repeatedly used for unauthorised publicity. The drives are intended to check the practice of using public spaces for promotional activities without the necessary permission, with violators liable to face legal proceedings as per the law.The authority has urged individuals, organisations, political groups and commercial establishments to refrain from pasting posters or putting up advertisements on public property without permission. “Unauthorised defacement of public property would not be tolerated and those found violating the law could face legal action. Public infrastructure is a shared civic asset and its upkeep is a collective responsibility,” the official said.
